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Medical radiation: uses, dose measurements and safety advice

From:
Public Health England
Part of:
Radiation
Published:
1 August 2014
Last updated:
22 December 2016, see all updates

The use of ionising radiation in medicine, including recommended dose measurements and guidance on safe radiology practice.

Ionising radiation is used in medicine in 3 ways:

  • diagnostic radiology, which uses x-ray machines to obtain images of the inside of the patient’s body
  • nuclear medicine, which uses radioactive substances introduced into the patient for diagnosis or treatment
  • radiotherapy, which uses many types and sources of ionising radiation to cure or relieve symptoms of cancer and other diseases

These 3 areas are covered by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000, which provide a framework to protect patients.

Guidance on the practical implementation of the ionising radiation (medical exposure) regulations for diagnostic and interventional radiology, was produced in a collaboration between the Society and College of Radiographers, The Royal College of Radiologists and the British Institute of Radiology. Staff from Public Health England were substantially involved in its development. The guidance is relevant for all staff groups working in diagnostic and interventional radiology, including radiographers, radiologists and radiology managers and includes practical examples of scenarios covering the implementation of the regulations.

Medical radiation: risks and safety advice

  1. Ionising radiation from medical imaging examinations: safety advice

    • Guidance

  2. Medical radiation: patient doses

    • Guidance

  3. Medical x-rays: radiation risks by age and sex of patient

    • Research and analysis

  4. Diagnostic radiology: national diagnostic reference levels (NDRLs)

    • Guidance

Diagnostic radiology

  1. Computed tomography (CT): national patient dose audits

    • Research and analysis

  2. Radiographic, fluoroscopic and dental x-rays: patient dose audits

    • Research and analysis

  3. Medical and dental x-rays: frequency and collective doses in the UK

    • Research and analysis

  4. Dental practitioners: safe use of x-ray equipment

    • Guidance

  5. Dental cone beam computed tomography: safe usage

    • Research and analysis

  6. Diagnostic radiology: national protocol for patient dose measurements

    • Guidance

  7. Computed tomography (CT): data analysis software to assess radiation doses

    • Research and analysis

  8. Hand-held dental X-ray equipment: guidance on safe use

    • Guidance

Nuclear medicine

There’s a dedicated committee, Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC), to advise the government on nuclear medicine.

  1. ARSAC Notes for Guidance: good clinical practice in nuclear medicine

    • Guidance

Radiotherapy

  1. Radiotherapy: learning from errors

    • Guidance

  2. Safer radiotherapy: error data analysis

    • Research and analysis

  3. Radiotherapy: good practice in error reporting

    • Guidance

  4. Radiotherapy errors and near misses: biennial report

    • Research and analysis

  5. Safer radiotherapy: supplementary survey analysis

    • Research and analysis

Document information

Published: 1 August 2014

Updated: 22 December 2016

+ full page history

  1. Added: Development of learning from radiotherapy errors.
  2. Added Medical radiation: national diagnostic reference levels (NDRLs), based on existing research.
  3. The 'Safer radiotherapy: supplementary survey analysis' has been added under 'Radiotherapy'.
  4. The 'Doses from computed tomography (CT) examinations in the UK report' has been uploaded.
  5. First published.

From: Public Health England

Part of: Radiation