Actual dose | Mean reported dose | Correct response (%) | Underestimates (%) | Average degree of underestimation (in terms of times below actual dose) | |||||
Radiologist | Non-radiologist | Radiologist | Non-radiologist | Radiologist | Non-radiologist | Radiologist | Non-radiologist | ||
Abdominal x-ray | 35 | 80 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 28 | 98 | 3 | 38 |
Thoracic spine x-ray | 35 | 150 | 4 | 24 | 0 | 27 | 97 | 4 | 30 |
Lumbar spine x-ray | 50 | 55 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 31 | 98 | 5 | 17 |
Pelvis x-ray | 35 | 68 | 3 | 21 | 0.8 | 30 | 96 | 4 | 12 |
Hip x-ray | 20 | 57 | 3 | 21 | 0.8 | 30 | 98 | 2 | 6 |
CT head | 100 | 134 | 12 | 30 | 0.8 | 30 | 99 | 2 | 13 |
CT thorax | 400 | 756 | 11 | 24 | 0 | 34 | 99 | 3 | 24 |
CT abdomen | 500 | 873 | 10 | 27 | 0 | 29 | 99 | 2 | 23 |
IVU | 120 | 150 | 6 | 21 | 0 | 30 | 97 | 4 | 20 |
Barium enema | 360 | 423 | 10 | 21 | 0 | 31 | 98 | 4 | 31 |
Barium swallow | 75 | 475 | 9 | 21 | 0 | 29 | 98 | 4 | 13 |
Ultrasound abdomen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 0 | / | / |
MRI brain | 0 | 0 | 2 | 100 | 65 | 0 | 0 | / | / |
MRI abdomen | 0 | 0 | 2 | 100 | 65 | 0 | 0 | / | / |
MRI limbs | 0 | 0 | 2 | 100 | 65 | 0 | 0 | / | / |
Leg arteriogram | 100 | 245 | 7 | 21 | 0 | 30 | 96 | 3 | 14 |
Thyroid isotope scan | 50 | 213 | 12 | 30 | 0 | 31 | 98 | 3 | 5 |
PET scan | 250 | 500 | 15 | 20 | 0 | 30 | 97 | 2 | 16 |
All the x-rays were regarded as conventional, whereas CT were the single detector CT.
The actual dose and the mean reported dose were measured in chest x-ray equivalents.
IVU, intravenous urography; PET, positron emission tomography.