Open AccessNigerian Radiographers Obligation to Diagnostic Reference Levels in Medical Imaging
Author(s) -
Thomas Adejo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of radiography and radiation sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2736-1063
pISSN - 2736-1071
DOI - 10.48153/jrrs/2020/gudf2289
Subject(s) - medicine , medical physics , mammography , european union , agency (philosophy) , member states , radiation dose , modalities , fluoroscopy , obligation , medical physicist , relevance (law) , radiology , nuclear medicine , law , breast cancer , cancer , political science , social science , philosophy , epistemology , sociology , business , economic policy
BackgroundDiagnostic reference levels (DRLs) help to identify unusually high dose levels inmedical procedures involving radiation. This will subsequently, stimulatequality control. There are legislations and guidelines requiring the Member States ofEuropean Union to adopt DRLs. While about 72% of European countries, aswell as the United States, have complied, and with subsequent reviewsdemonstrating significant dose reductions (16% – 30%), no evidence links anyAfrican country to replicating the same.ObjectiveThis work briefly reviewed the progress of Nigeria with regards to diagnosticreference levels (DRLs) and with particular attention to efforts by radiographers.MethodsGoogle search was made with keywords of 'diagnostic reference levels' as wellas 'radiation dose in Nigeria.' Over forty works were retrieved but only twenty-twowhich had specific relevance to the focus of the review were archived andread. The works were subsequently scrutinized to piece together the trend ofDRLs globally, and locally.ResultsPublications on x-ray, mammography, fluoroscopy and computed tomographydose abound in Nigeria. Doses had wide variations in all modalities. There wasno accessible evidence to indicate that any regulatory agency in Nigeria hadkeyed into the imperative of dose investigation, monitoring and reporting.ConclusionIn conclusion, diagnostic reference levels in x-ray, mammography andcomputed tomography have been recommended by independent researchers inNigeria. Regulatory agencies are urged to summon the will to give guidelineson implementation of these DRLs in order to improve optimization ofprotection for patients.