[Personnel requirements of medical radiation physics in radiotherapy in comparison to the current guidelines "radiation protection in medicine" : Special consideration of intensity-modulated radiation therapy].

In 1994 and 1998 reports on staffing levels in medical radiation physics for radiation therapy were published by the "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Medizinische Physik" (DGMP, German Society for Medical Physics). Because of the technical and methodological progress, changes in recommended qualifications of staff and new governmental regulations, it was necessary to establish new staffing levels. The data were derived from a new survey in clinics.

A study in Europe of patient dosimetry in diagnostic radiology: protocol development and findings.

In a multi-centre study more than 600 patient measurements of patients receiving thorax radiography were performed in five European cities. Participating centres were Fulda, Liverpool, Nicosia, Passau and Sofia. The dose quantities measured were the air kerma-area product (AKAP), incident air kerma and entrance surface air kerma (ESAK).

Estimation of patient doses for common diagnostic X-ray examinations in Latvian hospitals, analysis of radiographic techniques and comparison with European guidelines.

This article deals with the estimation of doses received by patients undergoing radiological examinations in order to establish dose reference levels (DRLs) in Latvia. Several large hospitals, small hospitals and private practices were selected for patient dose measurements. The measurements were carried out using calibrated thermoluminiscence dosemeters attached to the patient's skin.

[Staff requirements in medical radiation physics for diagnostic radiology in Germany: results of a questionnaire].

To get a general idea of the actual staffing situation in medical radiation physics, all active members of the German Society of Medical Physics (DGMP) were surveyed by the task force "staff requirements" ("Personalbedarf") of the DGMP in 1999. Of the 322 forms sent out, 173 could be evaluated. The staff requirements in medical radiation physics were calculated from the major elements of the radiology equipment and from the staff responsibilities as defined in the DGMP Reports 8 and 10, and compared with the actual number of staff members.

[Investigation of the entrance dose of standardized chest radiographs].

In 50 chest radiographs obtained in PA projection with the patient erect and the radiographic techniques kept constant, entrance dose, entrance surface dose and dose area product were measured and compared with the measurements obtained with Plexiglas and Alderson phantoms. Following the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, the "absorbed dose in air" at the point of intersection of the X-ray beam with the surface of the patient was used as reference. For patients with the same diameter, the measured dose deviated up to +/- 50 % from the "Reference Man" according to the ICRP 23 as well as from the "Representative Patient" according to the ICRP 73.