Hall 15 - Dose/Risk in DR, IR, Cardiology, Nuc Med

Question 1

How much natural background radiation exposure do we face per year?

Answer 1

3 mSv/year

Question 2

How much man-made background radiation exposure do we face per year?

Answer 2

3 mSv/year

Question 3

What is the largest source of natural background radiation exposure?

Answer 3

Radon
2 mSv/year

Question 4

What is the average radioactivity of the Earth’s crust at sea level?

Answer 4

0.46 mSv/year

Question 5

Cosmic rays ____ with altitude and ____ with latitude.

Answer 5

Increase
0.25 mSv/year at sea level

Question 6

What is the average effective dose of background radiation per person per year?

Answer 6

6 mSv/year
(split evenly between man-made and natural)

Question 7

What is the largest source of man-made background radiation exposure?

Answer 7

Medical imaging

Question 8

What is the adult effective dose of radiation from non-CT imaging (x-rays)?

Answer 8

0.02-1.5 mSv

Question 9

What is the adult effective dose of radiation from fluoroscopy studies (upper GI)?

Answer 9

6 mSv

Question 10

What is the adult effective dose of radiation from CT imaging?

Answer 10

2-15 mSv (head vs chest/abdomen)
Due to larger volume of irradiated tissue

Question 11

What is the adult effective dose of radiation from IR fluoroscopy?

Answer 11

5-15 mSv (angiography) to 70 mSv (TIPS)
May reach thresholds for deterministic effects (skin erythema)

Question 12

What is the adult effective dose of radiation from nuclear medicine (PET)?

Answer 12

10-15 mSv
(can range 1-40 mSv depending on study)