Invited Lecture 2.2

Abstract

Over recent decades, diagnostic and interventional radiology have emerged as significant contributors to radiation exposure worldwide. The International Basic Safety Standard (BSS), issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), delineates essential measures for radiation protection in medical settings. These measures encompass justification, optimization, and dose limitation. The BSS mandates the optimization of protection and safety for every medical procedure. Central to this optimization are patient dosimetry and Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs). Patient dose monitoring and auditing serve as crucial tools for optimization and are required either by regulations or accreditation bodies like the Joint Commission (JC). The establishment of the Computed Tomography Dose Index Registry (CT-DIR) by the American College of Radiology (ACR) in 2011 enables participating facilities to benchmark their dose levels against national data. In Thailand, national DRLs and DIR have been implemented over the past decade. Clinically qualified medical physicists play a pivotal role in education, training, and implementation efforts.