Currently, the establishment and use of DRLs for common radiological examinations is a requirement in International Standards and national regulations. But very few countries have established DRLs so far. ‘Japan has announced its first DRLs’ based on wide scale surveys of patient radiation doses. This is a very significant step in radiation protection of patients.
This work has been accomplished through the Japan Network for Research and Information on Medical Exposures (J-RIME) which was established in 2010 with the cooperation of academic institutions of radiological sciences, radiological and related professional societies, universities, and medical facilities along with cooperation of medical imaging industry companies. The J-RIME has established its first DRLs for adults and children in Japan following discussions with various experts, including physicians, radiological technologists and medical physicists. The results are based on the latest nationwide surveys conducted by liaison organisations of the J-RIME.
“Japan DRLs 2015” for CT, general radiography, mammography, dental intraoral radiography, fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures and nuclear medicine were approved for publication by the J-RIME and its liaison organisations in June 2015.
These societies and groups will jointly promote better understanding, expanded use and deeper permeation of DRLs in medical settings to strengthen process of optimization of radiation protection, that is, using minimum radiation exposure necessary for generating a diagnostic image or intended clinical purpose in interventional procedures
Click here for the document that provides details.
There has been good media coverage of this achievement as can be seen below:
1) Articles published
・Yomiuri newspaper (in Japanese)
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/20150607-OYT1T50088.html
・Yomiuri newspaper (in English, the content was same as above)
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002206227
・INNAVI NET (portal site for IT and imaging, in Japanese)
http://www.innervision.co.jp/products/topics/20150717
2) Other news coverage:
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASDG26H2G_W5A520C1CR0000/
http://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/front/list/CK2015052602000245.html
http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/wordbox/article/8169