Este estudo apresenta a avaliação das condições de radioproteção em radiologia intraoral. A pesquisa foi realizada em parceria com o Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria da Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (IRD/CNEN). A coleta de dados foi feita por meio de pesquisa de campo quantitativa de caráter descritivo durante o período de setembro de 2013 a dezembro de 2014. Participaram voluntariamente do estudo, odontólogos da cidade de Curitiba - PR que atuam com equipamentos de raios X intraorais. A amostra da pesquisa consistiu em 97 odontólogos e 130 equipamentos intraorais instalados em 74 locais de atendimentos distribuídos em 39 bairros da cidade de Curitiba - PR. Foram avaliadas 21 clínicas odontológicas, 40 consultórios odontológicos, 1 hospital universitário, 8 unidades municipais de atendimento odontológico e 4 instituições de ensino. Os dados foram coletados por meio de formulários preenchidos pelo pesquisador, pelos odontólogos, e pela avaliação de controle de qualidade dos equipamentos de raios X. As avaliações de dose de entrada na pele, tamanho de campo de radiação e filtração total foram realizadas com kits dosimétricos fornecidos e avaliados pelo IRD/CNEN. As medidas do tempo de exposição e da tensão dos equipamentos de raios X foram realizadas com detectores não invasivos. A dose ocupacional dos odontólogos foi verificada com dosímetros termoluminescentes. Por meio de formulários e de um questionário (aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa de Seres Humanos - UTFPR) foi possível identificar as características técnicas dos equipamentos, avaliar os procedimentos de trabalho e o conhecimento dos odontólogos em relação à radioproteção. Com os resultados da pesquisa é possível destacar que apenas 10% dos equipamentos avaliados atendem a todas as exigências das normas de radioproteção do Brasil. Entretanto, 84,5% das doses de entrada na pele dos pacientes foram consideradas como conforme. Em relação à exposição ocupacional, a radiologia intraoral mostra-se segura, porém os procedimentos de trabalho dos odontólogos, referentes à radioproteção podem ser otimizados. Grande parte dos odontólogos não utiliza posicionador na sua rotina, fazem o processamento químico das radiografias através do método visual, usam sempre o mesmo tempo de exposição para todas as regiões anatômicas e não observam os pacientes durante a aquisição das imagens. O estudo sugere que a falta de conhecimento e de interesse dos odontólogos em relação à radioproteção, a falta de manutenção periódica dos equipamentos e a falta de fiscalização da agência regulamentadora são os responsáveis pelas não conformidades observadas. / This study presents an evaluation of the radiation protection conditions in intraoral radiology. The survey was conducted in partnership with the Radiation Protection and Dosimetry Institute of the National Commission of Nuclear Energy (IRD/CNEN). Data collection was performed using quantitative field research in a descriptive way during the period of september 2013 to december 2014. The study had the voluntarily participation of dentists in the city of Curitiba – PR, working with intraoral X-ray equipment. The research sample consisted of 97 dentists and 130 intraoral equipments which are installed in 74 care locations distributed in 39 neighborhoods in the city of Curitiba - PR. The study evaluated 21 dental clinics, 40 dental offices, 1 hospital, 8 municipal units of dental care and 4 educational institutions. Data were collected through forms checked out by the researcher, by dentists and the quality control evaluation of X-ray equipment. The evaluation of the entrance skin dose, radiation field size and total filtration were performed with dosimetric kits supplied and evaluated by IRD/CNEN. The exposure time and voltage measures of X-ray equipment were performed with noninvasive detectors. Occupational dose was measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters. Through appropriate forms and a questionnaire (approved by the Ethics Committee of Human being Research - UTFPR) it was possible to identify the technical characteristics of the equipment, review the working procedures and knowledge of the dentists in relation to radiation protection. Among the search results it is important to emphasize that only 10% of the evaluated equipment reaches all requirements of the Brazilian radiation protection standards. However, 84,5% of the entrance skin dose delivered to the patients was considered in accordance. Regarding occupational exposure, the intraoral X-rays seem to be safe, but the dentist’s working procedures, related to the radiation protection, can be optimized. Most dentists do not use positioners in their routine, make the chemical processing of X-rays through the visual method, routinely use the same exposure time for all anatomic regions and do not observe patients during image acquisition. The study suggests that the dentists’s lack of knowledge and interest in radiological protection, the lack of equipment regular maintenance and the lack of regulatory agency supervision are the responsible for the nonconformities observed.

CAPES / No presente trabalho foram feitas medidas de dose recebida pelos pacientes pediátricos em exames de radiográficos de tórax em uma amostra de 386 exposições nas projeções AP/PA e Perfil. Os pacientes foram divididos em nas faixas etárias de 0-1 ano, 1-5 anos, 5-10 anos e 10-15 anos. Os exames foram realizados no Hospital de Clínicas da UFPR. Foi medida inicialmente a dose de entrada na pele com dosímetros termoluminescentes TLD-100 em uma amostra de 68 exposições, distribuídos pelas faixas etárias adotadas. A dose foi também determinada utilizando-se cálculos dosimétricos, que faz a determinação de dose para cada paciente a partir do rendimento do aparelho de raios X. O programa utiliza como dados de entrada a massa do paciente, a idade, a distância foco-pele, os dados da técnica radiográfica empregada (kV e mAs) e o valor de uma medida do rendimento feita com câmara de ionização para fins de calibração. Os primeiros dados avaliados mostraram doses maiores para os pacientes mais jovens. Uma mudança na técnica radiográfica dos exames contribuiu para a redução das doses. Foi avaliado todo o procedimento radiográfico e ficou caracterizada a necessidade de uma adequação da técnica radiográfica e uma constante otimização de todo o procedimento. Os dados foram colhidos novamente em 2007 e depois em 2009. Num primeiro momento os níveis de dose se mantiveram. Em 2009 os valores voltaram a subir devido ao aumento da carga (mAs). Os dados obtidos foram então comparados com os limites de dose permissíveis determinados pelos órgãos competentes. / In the present work absorbed doses by pediatric patients in chest radiographs were measured in 386 x-ray examinations in AP/PA and LAT projections. The patients were divided in age groups of 0-1 years, 1-5 years, 5-10 years and 10-15 years. The examinations were made at the pediatric room of Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Paraná. Initially the entrance skin dose was measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters TLD-100 in 68 expositions, distributed in the age groups. The dose was also determined with the software dosimetric calculations that calculates the dose for each patient, from the X-ray equipment yield. The program uses the following data as input: patient mass, age, skin-focus, radiographic technique (kV, mAs), and the yield measurement made with an ionization chamber for calibration. The first evaluated data showed higher doses for the younger patients. A change in the radiographic technique of the examinations contributed to the reduction of the doses. The whole radiographic procedure was evaluated and, thus, showed that the radiographic technique had to be adjusted and the procedure as a whole had to be constantly optimized. Dates were measurement in 2007 again and after 2009. At a first moment the dose levels if had kept. In 2009 the values had come back to go up due to the increase of the load (mAs). The doses were then compared with the regulatory dose limits.

The dosimetry of ionizing radiation is essential to procedures could be taken in order to maximize the beneficial effects that the use of such radiation can offer to society, as well as minimize damage from such radiation. As a result, different materials detectors have been proposed in the literature for use in personal and environmental dosimetry. Thermoluminescent detectors are widely used in these dosimetric procedures. The motivation of this work was to produce crystals of CaSO4 doped with unusual elements such as europium (Eu) and silver (Ag), including in the form of nanoparticles, prepared by an adaptation of the method developed by Yamashita (1971). The interest in the production of these materials was to investigate other methods of producing thermoluminescent materials. In the new growth route, the crystals were produced from calcium carbonate (CaCO3), by incorporating the dopants (Eu2O3 or Ag2O3) in a solution of sulfuric acid. Silver nanoparticles Ag(NP) were obtained through a synthesis route called polyol method, which is based on the reduction of Ag ions in a polyalcohol, in this case the ethylene glycol. The composites were obtained from the mixture of the base compound and glass or Teflon. The thermally stimulated exoeletronic emission of the new materials was investigated. Thermoluminescent characteristics as linearity, reproducibility, energy dependence, minimum detectable dose, fading and kinetics order were evaluated. The composites showed TL emission glow curves with a single peak centered around 200 ° C for samples containing Teflon and 230 ° C for samples with addition of glass. The new routes for the preparation of dosimeters were shown to be viable, being the dosimeter based on calcium sulfate doped with europium and silver nanoparticles (CaSO4:Eu,Ag(NP)), which provides the most intense TL emission between the preparations studied, being linear, reproducible, with low fading and low detection limit. / A dosimetria das radiações ionizantes é essencial para que procedimentos possam ser tomados com o objetivo de maximizar os efeitos benéficos que o uso dessas radiações pode oferecer à sociedade, assim como minimizar os danos decorrentes de tais radiações. Em decorrência disso, diferentes materiais detectores têm sido propostos na literatura para o emprego em dosimetria pessoal e ambiental. Detectores termoluminescentes têm larga utilização nesses procedimentos dosimétricos. A motivação deste trabalho foi produzir cristais de CaSO4 dopados com elementos não usuais como o európio (Eu) e a prata (Ag), inclusive na forma de nanopartículas, preparados por meio de uma adaptação do método desenvolvido por Yamashita (1971). O interesse na produção desses materiais foi o de investigar outras metodologias de produção de materiais termoluminescentes. Pela nova rota de crescimento, os cristais foram produzidos a partir do carbonato de cálcio (CaCO3), incorporando-se os dopantes (Eu2O3 ou Ag2O) numa solução de ácido sulfúrico. As nanopartículas de prata Ag(NP) foram obtidas através da rota de síntese chamada de método poliol, que se baseia na redução de cátions Ag em um poliálcool, neste caso o etileno glicol. Os compósitos foram obtidos a partir da mistura do composto base e da adição eletiva de vidro ou Teflon. A emissão exoeletrônica termicamente estimulada dos novos materiais produzidos foi investigada. Características termoluminescentes como linearidade, reprodutibilidade, dependência energética, dose mínima detectável, desvanecimento e ordem cinética foram avaliadas. Os compósitos apresentaram curvas de emissão TL com um único pico, centrado em torno de 200°C para as amostras contendo Teflon e 230°C para as amostras com adição de vidro. As novas rotas de preparação dos dosímetros termoluminescentes mostraram-se viáveis, sendo o dosímetro à base de sulfato de cálcio dopado com európio e nanopartículas de prata (CaSO4:Eu,Ag(NP)) o que apresenta a emissão TL mais intensa entre as preparações estudadas, sendo linear, reprodutível, com baixo desvanecimento e baixo limite inferior de detecção.

Low-energy X-rays in the range 10 - 50 keV have a wide application. One important application in radiological diagnostics is mammography, whereas, in radiotherapy, they are used for irradiation of superficial tumours, in brachytherapy and photon activation therapy. The importance of soft X-rays for fundamental radiobiological research is based on the fact, that all species of ionizing radiation produce a wide spectrum of secondary electrons, mainly responsible for the primary damage to be transformed into an observable radiobiological effect. By variation of the primary soft X-ray energy, a variation in the secondary electron spectra and therefore in the local energy deposition is provided. However, up to now no definitive conclusions about the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of soft X-rays can be made due to its dependence on the photon energy, biological endpoint and dose range and the consequent large spread of the published data. The superconducting electron linear accelerator of high brilliance and low emittance (ELBE) at the Forschungszentrum Rossendorf with an electron energy up to about 40 MeV is used, among all, to generate X-rays in a wide energy range. One method for production of intensive, quasi-monochromatic X-rays in the energy range 10 - 100 keV tunable in energy, is by channeling of electrons in a perfect crystal. This X-ray source has many advantages over the most widespread X-ray source, which is the X-ray tube. Although the physical basis of the channeling effect has been previously investigated, the feasibility of an X-ray source based on channeling radiation (CR) for radiobiological studies has been for the first time theoretically and experimentally studied and a dedicated CR source built and optimised in the frame of this thesis. CR has been theoretically characterised in order to estimate its applicability for radiobiological studies. A good agreement between the theoretical predictions and the measured data has been found. The intrinsic properties of the CR source have led to the conclusion that monochromatisation is necessary. A monochromator based on HOPG mosaic crystals, was designed and manufactured. The dosimetrical methods have been investigated at the CR source as well as at an X-ray tube. Absolute dose measurements using an ionisation chamber and spectral dose distribution determination using semiconductor detectors have been performed. In addition, an unconventional system based on thermally stimulated exoelectron emission (TSEE) detectors, allowing to measure dose in a small volume and in the real cell environment has been tested and has proven itself appropriate in a variable dose range and in a liquid environment, in cases where reproducible laboratory conditions are provided. The biological endpoints clonogenic cell survival and micronucleus induction have been optimised for two established cell lines. The human mammary epithelial cells MCF-12A have been chosen due to the importance of RBE of soft X-rays for determination of risk from mammography. On the other hand, the use of the widespread mouse fibroblast cell line NIH/3T3 allows to compare the results with previously published data. The influence of the specific irradiation procedure at ELBE on the control level of cell survival and micronucleus induction has been tested and an irradiation system was developed and constructed. In addition, the RBE for soft X-rays was determined by X-ray tube irradiation at the Medical Department of Technische Universität Dresden. The RBE of 10 kV and 25 kV X-rays relative to 200 kV X-rays was determined. The RBE was found to be in the range from 1.0 to 1.4, depending on the used radiation quality, cell line and the biological endpoint, in agreement with previously published data for the same radiation qualities. These results confirm that systematical studies of RBE dependence on photon energy at the ELBE CR source are necessary and feasible.

Thesis (D. Tech.) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2009 / Superficial cancerous lesions are commonly treated through low energy X-ray or electron radiation in radiotherapy. The treatment units that produce the radiation are equipped with square, rectangular and round applicators of different sizes. These applicators attach to the treatment units and define the radiation field size applied during treatment. An applicator is chosen to fit the shape of the cancerous lesion on the patient as closely as possible. Since cancerous lesions are irregular in shape, there will always be an area of healthy tissue between the edge of the lesion and the edge of the standard field shape. This healthy tissue will be irradiated along with the lesion during treatment which is undesirable since the cancer wound heals through reparative growth of the surrounding healthy tissue after treatment. Traditional techniques that were developed to shield this healthy tissue and thus shape the radiation field to the shape of the lesion present various shortcomings. This study introduces a new thermal-spray process for producing radiation field shaping shields which overcomes most of the shortcomings encountered with the traditional field shaping techniques. Since none of the commercially available thermal-spray equipment could be used to produce field shaping shields, new thermal-spray equipment was designed and fabricated tailor made to the application. Different techniques to determine the contours of the treatment area on the patient were investigated. These included a patient contact technique using a plaster bandage impression and a non-contact technique using 3D laser scanning. From the plaster bandage impression a plaster model can be produced onto which a high density low melt material such as Wood’ s alloy can be thermally sprayed to produce a field shaping mask. A model can also be produced from the 3D laser scanning data through laser sintering (LS) in nylon polyamide powder or through computer numerical controlled (CNC) milling in a block of low density polyurethane. The thermal-spray technique was evaluated by comparing the field shaping ability of radiation shields produced through the technique to the field shaping ability of shields produced through the traditional techniques. Radiographic film was used for this purpose and the results are presented in the form of isodensity charts. The required thicknesses of thermal-sprayed field shaping masks to shield radiation of various energies were also determined. The thicknesses were determined through radiation transmission measurements of known thicknesses of sprayed sheets of Wood’ s alloy. X-ray imaging showed that there were no defects present within thermal-sprayed layers of Wood’ s alloy that may negatively affect the shielding ability of masks produced through the technique.

Radiation from Computed Tomography (CT) is now the major contributor to population radiation dose. Despite controversy around the dose-effect relationship of radiation from CT, the linear non-threshold (LNT) theory is endorsed by many authorities, and constitutes the basis of cancer risk estimates. The purpose of this study was (1) a literature review of radiobiological theories, and methods of dose saving stategies in CT; (2) to highlight the importance of dose saving in CT, and to demonstrate how dose can be saved in a radiology department: Following a 40% reduction in reference X-ray tube current for a CT of the urinary tract, the effecitve dose and estimated lifetime attributable risk of incident cancer due to this CT in a group (n=103) were reduced by 37% and 38% in an age and sex-matched group respectively. The literature review showed that the public health implications of CT radiation exposure remain uncertain. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

La radiothérapie occupe une place majeure dans l’arsenal thérapeutique des cancers.Malgré des progrès technologiques importants depuis près de vingt ans, des tissus sains au voisinage ou à distance de la tumeur cible continuent à être inévitablement irradiés à des niveaux de doses très différents. Ces doses sont à l’origine d’effets secondaires précoces (Œdème, radionécrose, Dysphagie, Cystite) ou tardifs (rectorragies, télangiectasie, effets carcinogènes, les pathologie cérébrovasculaires).Il est donc primordial de quantifier et de prévenir ces effets secondaires afin d'améliorer la qualité de vie des patients pendant et après leur traitement.La modélisation du risque d'événements iatrogènes radio-induits repose sur la connaissance précise de la distribution de doses au tissu sain d'intérêt ainsi que sur un modèle de risque capable d'intégrer un maximum d'informations sur le profil d'irradiation et des autres facteurs de risques non dosimétriques. L'objectif de ce travail de thèse a été de développer des méthodes de modélisation capables de répondre à des questions spécifiques aux deux aspects, dosimétriques et statistiques, intervenant dans la modélisation du risque de survenue d'événements iatrogènes radio-induits.Nous nous sommes intéressé dans un premier temps au développement d'un modèle de calcul permettant de déterminer avec précision la dose à distance due au rayonnements de diffusion et de fuite lors d'un traitement par radiothérapie externe et ce, pour différentes tailles des champs et à différentes distances de l'axe du faisceau. Ensuite, nous avons utilisé des méthodes d'analyse de données fonctionnelles pour développer un modèle de risque de toxicité rectales après irradiation de la loge prostatique. Le modèle proposé a montré des performances supérieures aux modèles de risque existants particulièrement pour décrire le risque de toxicités rectales de grade 3. Dans le contexte d'une régression de Cox flexible sur données réelles, nous avons proposé une application originale des méthodes de statistique fonctionnelle permettant d'améliorer les performances d'une modélisation via fonctions B-splines de la relation dose-effet entre la dose de radiation à la thyroïde.Nous avons également proposé dans le domaine de la radiobiologie une méthodes basée sur l’analyse en composantes principales multiniveau pour quantifier la part de la variabilité expérimentale dans la variabilité des courbes de fluorescence mesurées. / Radiotherapy plays a major role in the therapeutic arsenal against cancer. Despite significant advances in technology for nearly twenty years, healthy tissues near or away from the target tumor remain inevitably irradiated at very different levels of doses. These doses are at the origin of early side effects (edema, radiation necrosis, dysphagia, cystitis) or late (rectal bleeding, telangiectasia, carcinogenic, cerebrovascular diseases). It is therefore essential to quantify and prevent these side effects to improve the patient quality of life after their cancer treatment.The objective of this thesis was to propose modelling methods able to answer specific questions asked in both aspects, dosimetry and statistics, involved in the modeling risk of developing radiation-induced iatrogenic pathologies.Our purpose was firstly to assess the out-of-field dose component related to head scatter radiation in high-energy photon therapy beams and then derive a multisource model for this dose component. For measured doses under out-of-field conditions, the average local difference between the calculated and measured photon dose is 10%, including doses as low as 0.01% of the maximum dose on the beam axis. We secondly described a novel method to explore radiation dose-volume effects. Functional data analysis is used to investigate the information contained in differential dose-volume histograms. The method is applied to the normal tissue complication probability modeling of rectal bleeding for In the flexible Cox model context, we proposed a new dimension reduction technique based on a functional principal component analysis to estimate a dose-response relationship. A two-stage knots selection scheme was performed: a potential set of knots is chosen based on information from the rotated functional principal components and the final knots selection is then based on statistical model selection. Finally, a multilevel functional principal component analysis was applied to radiobiological data in order to quantify the experimental Variability for replicate measurements of fluorescence signals of telomere length.

The current state of a prototype fan-beam optical computed tomography scanner for three-dimensional radiation dosimetry has been presented. The system uses a helium-neon laser and a line-generating lens for fan-beam creation. Five photodiode arrays form an approximate arc detector array of 320-elements. Two options of physical collimators provide two levels of scatter-rejection: single-slot (SS) and multi-hole (MH). A pair of linear polarizers has been introduced as a means of light intensity modulation. This work examined: (i) the characterization of system components, (ii) data acquisition & imaging protocols, and (iii) the scanning of an nPAG dosimeter. (i): The polarizer-pair method of light intensity modulation has been calibrated and the polarization sensitivity of the detector array was evaluated. The relationship between detected values and both light intensity and photodiode integration time was examined. This examination indicated the need for an offset correction to treat all data acquired by the system. Data corruption near the edges of each photodiode array was found to cause ring artefacts in image reconstructions. Two methods of extending the dynamic range of the system---via integration time and light intensity---were presented. The use of master absorbent solutions and spectrophotometric data allowed for the preparation of absorption-based and scatter-based samples of known opacities. This ability allowed for the evaluation of the relative scatter-rejection capabilities of the system's two collimators. The MH collimator accurately measured highly-attenuating solutions of both absorption-based and scatter-based agents. The SS collimator experienced some contamination by scattered light with absorption-based agents, and significant contamination with scatter-based agents. Also, using the SS collimator, a `spiking' artefact was observed in highly-attenuating samples of both solution types. (ii): A change in imaging protocol has been described that greatly reduces ring artefacts that plagued the system previously. Scanning parameters related to the reference scan (Io) and data acquisition were evaluated with respect to image noise. Variations in flask imperfections were found to be a significant source of noise. (iii): An nPAG dosimeter was prepared, planned for, irradiated, and imaged using the fan-beam system. In addition to ring artefacts caused by data-corruption, refractive inhomogeneities and particulates in the gelatin were found to cause errors in image reconstructions. Otherwise, contour and percent depth dose comparisons between measured and expected values showed good agreement. Findings have indicated that significant imaging gains may be achieved by performing pre-irradiation and post-irradiation scans of dosimeters.

CAPES / A dosimetria em tomografia computadorizada (TC) envolve desde a determinação de grandezas dosimétricas específicas de TC até a estimativa de dose absorvida e dose efetiva. Entretanto, deve-se considerar que por envolver radiação ionizante no seu processo, este procedimento apresenta riscos inerentes e sua utilização deve ponderar o custo e o benefício propiciado pelo procedimento. A proteção de pacientes submetidos a exames radiológicos, de uma maneira geral, é determinada pelos princípios da “justificação” e “otimização”. Desta forma, torna-se importante o conhecimento dos níveis de radiação nas exposições durante um procedimento tomográfico. Estes níveis foram observados através da estimativa das grandezas específicas para tomografia computadorizada, tais como o Índice de kerma no ar (C100,ar), o Índice de kerma ponderada (Cw) e o produto kerma comprimento (PKL,CT), e em estimados os níveis de dose efetiva e risco para o estudo tomográfico computadorizado de crânio, tórax e abdômen realizado com múltipla varredura. Os valores obtidos foram comparados com os obtidos por simulação computacional por Monte Carlo. Eles foram utilizados, neste estudo, no cálculo da Dose Efetiva e risco e para comparação com o nível de referência de dose estabelecido pela Comunidade Européia. Utilizando-se o programa de simulação computacional Dosecal X_CT e o protocolo ICRP 103, foram determinadas as grandezas de radioproteção relevantes para o estudo que são os valores de dose efetiva referente ao procedimento. O nível do Produto kerma comprimento (PKL,CT), utilizando-se o C100,ar previamente estabelecido, foi também obtido e comparado com o nível de referência de dose estabelecido pela comunidade europeia. Os valores encontrados até agora estão dentro dos limites dos Níveis de Referência. / The computed tomography (CT) dosimetry involves measurements of specific quantities of CT, which are part of CT quality control procedures, as well as calculation of absorbed and effective doses to a patient submitted to CT examinations. Since CT uses ionizing radiation, it should be considered that a precise balance between risks and benefits must be achieved in order to justify the adoption of such technique. Radiation protection of patients undergoing radiological exams is established based on the justification and optimization principles. Nowadays, it is important to know the dose radiation levels to which a patient is exposed during a tomographic procedure. Those are given by the estimation of specific dosimetric quantities called the computed tomography kerma index in air, C100,air, the weighted computed tomography kerma index Cw, kerma length product, PKL,CT and then the levels of effective dose and risk to the computerized CT scan study of skull, thorax and abdomen with a multiple scanning. The values obtained were compared with those obtained by computer simulation using Monte Carlo method. The protection quantities organ absorbed dose, effective dose and risk for comparison with the reference dose level established by the European Community. Using computational simulation program of the Dosecal X_CT and the ICRP 103 Protocol, were certain quantities of radiation protection relevant to study which are the values of effective dose for the procedure. The dose length product PKL,CT level was calculated from the C100,air and compared to the reference dose level established by the European Community. The values found so far are within the limits of the reference levels.

A grande utilização de exames de diagnóstico por imagem em crianças trouxe à tona a preocupação com a crescente dose de radiação absorvida na realização de um exame radiográfico. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi realizar avaliação das práticas de raios X na radiologia pediátrica, visando a otimização dos procedimentos radiológicos e a produção de imagens com qualidade para o diagnóstico com a menor dose ao paciente. A metodologia foi baseada no acompanhamento de exames pediátricos e medidas dosimétricas através do uso de dosímetros termoluminescentes TLDs e software específico (DoseCal) para a constatação da realidade dos serviços de radiologia pediátrica. Medidas de pacientes pediátricos em exames radiográficos de tórax foram realizadas em um hospital público de Curitiba e em uma clínica em Cascavel. Grupos com diferentes faixas etárias foram formados na avaliação de exames rotineiros de tórax nas projeções AP/PA e LAT, e ossos da face na projeção lateral, onde foram divididos em grupos de 0-1 ano, 1-5 anos, 5-10 anos e 10-15 anos. As doses obtidas através do software DoseCal foram comparadas entre si para determinar sua variabilidade. A DEP determinada pelos TLDs foi comparada com os valores de referência dados pela comunidade européia para verificar as doses utilizadas. Os valores de dose para crianças de até 1 ano apresentaram-se altos em comparação com os demais grupos avaliados, um fator justificado em partes pela limitação dos equipamentos utilizados. Na radiologia convencional os valores obtidos através dos TLDs foram satisfatórios, obedecendo a referência máxima descrita pela comissão européia. Na radiologia digital indireta obtivemos valores acima dos referenciados, fator este resultante da implantação e da adaptação das técnicas radiológicas a nova forma de captação de imagem. Concluí-se que o aprimoramento técnico das equipes em radiologia pediátrica é uma das melhores maneiras de se obter bons resultados na diminuição da dose. / The great use of examinations of diagnosis for image in children brought the concern with the increasing dose of radiation absorbed in the accomplishment of a radiographic examination. The objective of this research is to carry through evaluation of the practical ones of x-rays in pediatric radiology, aiming at to optimize the radiological rocedures and the production of images with quality for the diagnosis with the lesser dose to the patient. The methodology is based on the accompaniment of pediatric examinations and dosimetry measures through the use of dosemeters TLD and specific software (DoseCal) for the evidence of the reality in a radiology service. Measures of pediatric patients in radiographic examinations of thorax had been carried through in a public hospital in the Curitiba. Groups with different age groups had been formed in the evaluation of routine examinations of thorax in projections AP/PA and LAT, where they are divided in groups of 0-1 year, 1-5 years, 5-10 years and 10-15 years. Part of the carried through examinations had been evaluated with thermoluminescence dosemeters TLD-100 for the collection of the entrance surface dose (ESD). The measured doses are compared with the gotten ones with the DoseCal software, that makes the calculation of dose for each patient from the income of the device of rays X. The ESD is evaluated always that it has diagnostic quality in the radiographic image. The objective is to verify if the minimum requirements had been reached, for a good quality of image and bringing a small dose to the patient, as party to suit of to optimize procedures.