Estimating Excess Cancer Risk Due to Digital Diagnostic Radiography Examination in Northern Iran

Ionizing radiation has an important role in diagnostic radiology. Exposure to diagnostic X-ray, due to its ionizing nature, can be a harmful source of radiation and has its risks. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to estimate the Entrance Surface Dose (ESD) and Effective Dose (ED) in digital radiography and estimating excess cancer risk due to digital radiography examination in Northern parts of Iran. The data in this study were collected from 15 digital radiology centres for two age groups (10-15 and adults). For the purpose of this study the ESD and ED for the following radiographs were estimated: Skull (PA and lateral views), cervical spine (AP and lateral views), chest (PA and lateral views), thoracic spine (PA and lateral views), lumbar spine (AP and lateral views), pelvic (AP view), and abdomen (AP view). In order to obtain the organ dose, effective dose and radiation risk estimation of the above examinations, PCXMC (v2.0) was used.