dose and DRL’s

• what does DRL stand for


  diagnostic reference level
• what is the purpose of DRLs


  • a DRL is a specified quantity for a given imaging procedure
  • designed to aid optimisation of radiation exposures
  • not a dose limit
  • can help to identify issues relating to equipment or practice
• what does KERMA mean


  kinetic energy released per unit mass
• what is absorbed dose


  amount of energy deposited in a material
• what is linear energy transfer


  energy deposited per unit distance
• what is equivalent dose 


  a measure of the biological damage to tissue and is calculated for individual organs and adjusted for the type of radiation
• what is effective dose


  calculated for the whole body adjusted for the sensitivity of the organ to radiation