Evaluation of Entrance Surface Air Kerma in Patients During PA Chest Radiography Using CALDose Program in Al Najaf Governorate Hospitals

Due to its value in providing diagnostic information, large Figure of chest X-rays conducted everywhere. This therefore necessitate assessing patients' dose to avoid any potential harm. This work is aimed at evaluating the Entrance Surface Air Kerma (ESAK) for adult patients undergoing chest radiographic examination (posterior - anterior (PA)) in Al Najaf (Iraq). The ESAK were evaluated for 186 patients utilizing CALDose program. The tube output measurements were carried out using Rad-Check dosimeter. Patient demographic data was also recorded (height and weight). Nine X-ray units were considered in this research (i.e. Al-Furat hospital (AFH), Al Sajad General Hospital (ASGH), Al-Hakeem hospital (AHH), Al-Zahra hospital (AZH), Al-Sadder hospital (ASH), Al Hydria General Hospital (AHGH), Middle Euphrates cancer center (MECC), Al Manzrah General Hospitals (AMGH) and Al Mishkhab Hospital (AMH)). The resulted data revealed that the ESAK for the considered hospitals AFH, ASH, ASGH, AHH, AZH, AHGH, MECC, AMGH and AMH are 0.67, 0.069, 0.59, 0.05, 0.79, 0.76, 0.48, 0.21 and 0.18, respectively with an overall average of 0.425 ± (0.299) mGy. In AZH, the ESAK was generally higher than those of other X-ray units of this study. Finally, performing a regular quality control (QC) checking with dose audit is largely advised (paper)