Patient doses in chiropractic radiography

In New Zealand chiroptractic radiography is of the spinal column and pelvis. A wide variety of different techniques is used and in particular because of their need to assess the relationships of bone and spinal structures to each other, chiropractors tend to use large x-ray field sizes. This in turn gives rise to the use of beam-shaping filters and diaphragms, to improve image quality over areas of the body where the body thickness may vary markedly, and to reduce the patient dose. Reference doses and examples of good radiographic technique for chiropractic radiography have been derived using the survey data. The examples of good chiroptractic radiographic technuique have some similarities with those for medical radiography of corresponding body parts, with the addition of the use of beam shaping filters and diaphragms whter appropriate. The diagnostic requiremnets for each chiroptractic radiographic projection have not been specifies. It is hoped that the chiroptractic profession can provide this information. (author). 3 refs., 1 tab