Assessment of the radiation dose associated with X-ray examinations using the DoseCal and CALDose_X software packages

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the entrance skin dose (ESD) in adult patients undergoing skull and pelvis X-ray examinations in Najran, Saudi Arabia using the DoseCal (Radiological Protection Center of Saint Georges’ Hospital, London, England) and CALDose_X (Department of Nuclear Energy, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil) software packages. Additional aims included conducting comparisons between these two software packages and against international reference dose levels and estimating the radiogenic risk during X-ray examinations. Materials and Methods: A dataset of 410 patients seen at Najran University Hospital was examined to assess the radiation dose using the DoseCal and CALDose_X software packages. Results: The values of the entrance dose, organ doses and effective dose obtained by the DoseCal and CALDose_X software were reported in this study. The ESD values estimated from the X-ray units ranged from 0.32 to 2.65 mGy for skull anteroposterior/posteroanterior (AP/PA), 0.62 to 2.13 mGy for skull lateral (LAT), and 1.23 to 3.15 mGy for pelvis AP projection. According to the DoseCal and CALDose_X, the dose absorbed by the pelvis and skull varied by a factor ranging between 1.2 and 2.4. Conclusion: All entrance doses calculated for the skull and pelvis were found to be within the corresponding dose reference levels recommended by the international agency, board and commission highlighted in this study.