Web Implementation of Quality Assurance (QA) for X-ray Units in Balkanic Medical Institutions.

Diagnostic radiology is the major contributor to the total dose of the population from all artificial sources. In order to reduce radiation exposure and optimize diagnostic x-ray image quality, it is necessary to increase the quality and efficiency of quality assurance (QA) and audit programs. This work presents a web application providing completely new QA solutions for x-ray modalities and facilities.

Radioactivity of mining sites of lead, zinc and phosphate ores in Serbia.

Natural resources such as ores contain radioactive nuclides at various concentrations. Therefore it is important to investigate the radioactivity in these resources as well as in the soil at the locations of ore deposits. For that reason we conducted preliminary measurements in the soil samples taken from the locations of lead and zinc ore deposits in Bosilegrad and Raška and from the locations of phosphate ore deposits in Bosilegrad to estimate the environmental conditions prior to the ore excavation.

A radiological incident with a radioactive lightning rod source found in a vehicle used by film crewmembers: a case study.

An overview of radiological incident involving radiation source from a lightning rod (152Eu/154Eu), together with dose estimation for individuals exposed to ionising radiation is given in the paper. The cause of the incident was an orphaned source from a lightning rod. The dose received by individuals was assessed using a retrospective dosimetry technique, based on the information on behaviour of individuals and results of dose rate measurements in the vicinity of the source.

Mammography radiation dose: initial results from Serbia based on mean glandular dose assessment for phantoms and patients.

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the actual mammography dose levels in Serbia and establish a baseline dose database for the future screening programme. The mean glandular dose (MGD) was assessed for standard size breast substituted by 45 mm polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom and imaged under typical clinical conditions at 30 screen-film mammography facilities. Average MGD was (1.

Good reasons to implement quality assurance in nationwide breast cancer screening programs in Croatia and Serbia: results from a pilot study.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the need for and the possible achievements of a comprehensive QA programme and to look at effects of simple corrective actions on image quality in Croatia and in Serbia. The paper focuses on activities related to the technical and radiological aspects of QA. The methodology consisted of two phases.

A survey of patient doses from conventional diagnostic radiology examinations: first results from Serbia and Montenegro.

Diagnostic reference levels provide framework to reduce variability. The aim of this study is to establish, for the first time, a baseline for national diagnostic reference levels in Serbia and Montenegro for the most common X-ray examination types. Measurements of patient dose using kerma-area product meter and entrance surface air kerma assessment were performed on at least ten patients for each examination type, in each of 16 randomly selected hospitals in Serbia and Montenegro, so that a total of 3,026 procedures for nine different examination categories were included in the survey.

Patient doses for barium meal examination in Serbia and Montenegro and potentials for dose reduction through changes in equipment settings.

Patient doses for barium meal examination performed at three general hospitals in Serbia and Montenegro were measured using a kerma-area product (KAP) meter. The results were analysed in order to obtain dose-related parameters. Although the observed doses were within the range reported in other studies, intra-hospital and inter-hospital dose variations were significant.

First results on patient dose measurements from conventional diagnostic radiology procedures in Serbia and Montenegro.

The objective of this work is to assess patient doses for the most frequent X-ray examinations for the first time in Serbia and Montenegro. A total of 510 procedures for 11 different examination categories in 3 general hospitals were analysed. Mean and median entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) and kerma area product (KAP) values followed by mean effective doses were reported.