What is the approximate effective dose received by a patient from a single posteroanterior chest radiograph?

• A 10 mSv
• B 2 mSv
• C 0.5 mSv
• D 0.02 mSv ✓

Explanation

D PA chest radiograph delivers about 0.02 mSv, roughly equivalent to a few days of natural background radiation. D CT abdomen is around 10 mSv, about 500 times higher, and 2 mSv approximates the annual background dose in many regions. These benchmark figures are frequently tested because they allow rapid comparison of the risk of common imaging investigations.

Reference: Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.