An assessment of overbadging at a large clinic.

We have analyzed the need to have personnel monitors worn by over 400 individuals in our clinic. We grouped individual's personnel monitoring results according to job classification and averaged each classification's readings for 18 mo. From these averages, we were able to clearly define an "essential to monitor" group and a "not essential to monitor" group (83 muSv per monitor per mo vs.

Mailed thermoluminescent dosimetry reviews in radiation therapy.

The six Centers for Radiological Physics performed periodic thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) reviews for photon beams at 276 facilities across the country. The purpose of the reviews and the techniques in use are briefly described. Results from 2413 mailed reviews of megavoltage units indicate that, in 92% of the reviews, a specified dose was delivered within +/- 5% of the TLD-measured dose.

Mailed thermoluminescent dosimeter determination of entrance skin exposure and half-value layer in mammography.

A method of providing in vivo measurement of entrance skin exposure for mammography using mailed thermoluminescent dosimeters has been developed. The dosimeters are calibrated to 137Cs (662 keV), and a correction is applied to account for energy response. A mailed dosimeter packet which can be used to measure the half-value layer at mammography energies is also described.

Effect of operator training on patient exposure: an analysis of the NEXT data.

The Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends (NEXT) program has obtained data from various states on the physical factors related to patient radiation exposure from several common radiographs. Data from two years were examined for exposure, beam area/film area and exposure area product delivered to a "standard patient." The data were examined for differences as a function of operator training.