Difference in radiation absorbed dose according to the panoramic radiographic machines

Choi, Soon Chul

Abstract

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to estimate the radiation absorbed doses in certain critical organs in the head and neck region with an Orthopos plus, a Panelipse, and a Panex-E machines. The second objective was to compare the absorbed doses between 5 inch by 12 inch and 6 inch by 12 inch image field for the Orthopos plus.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Rando phantom and LiF TLD chips were used for dosimetry. The absorbed doses were measured at the thyroid gland, the submandibular gland, the parotid gland, the mouth floor, the maxillary sinus, the brain, the mandibular body, the mandibular ramus, the 2nd cervical spine and the skin over TMJ area.
RESULTS
The highest absorbed dose value was recorded at the mandibular ramus for the Orthopos plus with narrow image field. Higher absorbed dose values were recorded at the parotid gland, the mouth floor, the submandibular gland, and the 2nd cervical spine. The doses in the parotid gland were 597 microGy and 529 microGy with Orthopos plus, 638 microGy with Panelipse, and 1094 microGy with Panex-E. Corresponding figures for the mandibular ramus were 2363 microGy and 1220 microGy, 248 microGy, and 118 microGy. The absorbed doses to the thyroid gland, the maxillary sinus, the brain, and the skin over TMJ were very low.
CONCLUSION
Higher exposure values were recorded for the Orthopos plus than Panelipse and Panex-E. There was no significant differences of the absorbed doses according to the image field size.