Estimation of Effective Dose to Salivary Glands at Examination of the Oral and Maxillofacial Region

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Radiological Technology Vol. 65; no. 5; pp. 594 - 602
• Main Authors: Okano, Tsuneichi, Matsuo, Ayae, Gotoh, Kenichi, Yokoi, Midori, Hirukawa, Akiko, Okumura, Shinji, Koyama, Shuji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Japan Japanese Society of Radiological Technology 20.05.2009
• Subjects: absorbed dose; effective dose; Face - diagnostic imaging; Humans; intraoral radiography; Jaw - diagnostic imaging; Mouth - diagnostic imaging; panoramic radiography; Phantoms, Imaging; Radiation Dosage; Radiography, Panoramic; salivary gland; Salivary Glands - radiation effects
• ISSN: 0369-4305; 1881-4883
• DOI: 10.6009/jjrt.65.594

The salivary glands and the oral mucosa were included in the determination of effective doses of radiography in the new ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) recommendations. These changes will likely result in an upward reassessment of the effective dose during oral and maxillofacial radiographic examination. We measured the dose received by many organs and calculated the effective doses using the guidelines in ICRP Publications 103 and 60. For this study, we used intraoral radiography (incisor, canine, premolar, molar, maxillary, and mandibular areas) and panoramic radiography. The two levels of effective doses were compared. As a result, exposure during intraoral radiography ranged from 4 to 8 μSv and that during panoramic radiography ranged from 16 μSv in Publication 103. Effective doses in Publication 103 were higher than those in Publication 60. The dose was 1.6–4.5 times higher in intraoral radiography and 2.2 times higher in panoramic radiography. In conclusion, the salivary glands markedly influenced the value of the effective doses of radiography in this study.