The right dose for accurate diagnosis: tracking patient radiation doses and using diagnostic reference levels

Evaluating radiation dose levels during diagnostic radiological procedures and using this data to improve the quality of diagnostic exams and patient safety are vital when carrying out radiation therapy and treatment. Approximately 3.6 billion diagnostic radiological procedures are performed around the world each year. Although the use of ionizing radiation for medical purposes offers many benefits, it can also increase the risk of cancer later in life. Where more radiation is used than is necessary to provide a clinical diagnosis, the patient can incur an increased risk but no additional benefit. Ideally, medical imaging procedures should be performed only when well justified and should use the lowest possible amount of radiation necessary to provide an image quality that is sufficient for diagnosing disease or injury.