What is the unit used to measure absorbed dose in diagnostic radiology?

What is the unit used to measure absorbed dose in diagnostic radiology?

• A. Gray
• B. Sievert
• C. Becquerel
• D. Curie

Answer: (A)

Absorbed dose in diagnostic radiology is measured in grays. This quantity describes how much energy from the radiation is deposited in a mass of tissue. One gray equals one joule of energy deposited per kilogram of tissue, so it directly reflects energy absorption by the tissue. The gray is different from the sievert, which accounts for the varying biological effects of different types of radiation by applying weighting factors to compute dose equivalent. The becquerel and curie measure activity—the rate of radioactive decays—not energy deposited, so they don’t represent absorbed dose. Thus, gray is the appropriate unit for quantifying absorbed dose in diagnostic radiology.

Absorbed dose in diagnostic radiology is measured in grays. This quantity describes how much energy from the radiation is deposited in a mass of tissue. One gray equals one joule of energy deposited per kilogram of tissue, so it directly reflects energy absorption by the tissue.

The gray is different from the sievert, which accounts for the varying biological effects of different types of radiation by applying weighting factors to compute dose equivalent. The becquerel and curie measure activity—the rate of radioactive decays—not energy deposited, so they don’t represent absorbed dose.

Thus, gray is the appropriate unit for quantifying absorbed dose in diagnostic radiology.