Exposure of the Population of Ngaoundere-Cameroon to Ionizing Radiation Related to Medical Diagnosis in 2018

Background: Medical applications are the main source of exposure to ionizing radiation of human origin. Our objective was to determine the data on exposure to ionizing radiation of medical origin of the population of Ngaoundere in 2018. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted within a period of one year, in the different hospitals of Ngaoundere, with a functional medical imaging service. The variables studied were age, sex, type of examination, anatomical region and effective dose. The statistical analysis was performed using the Microsoft Office 2016 software, Sphinx V5; the effective dosage was calculated using the Internet Dose calculation Module. Results: In 2018, 4136 diagnostic acts using ionizing radiation were carried out; it concerned only conventional radiology with an average of 0.02 per capita. The total collective dose received by the population was 8300 mSv, and an average dose of 0.040 mSv per inhabitant. The proportion of the population that has actually benefited from a conventional radiology examination is 2.07%, an individual effective average dose of 2 mSv. The most frequent acts involved the thorax, limbs, spine and pelvis with respectively 53.9%; 19.6%; 14.3% and 6.7%. Acts involving the spine, pelvis and hip, skull and abdomen contributed to the majority of the collective effective dose respectively with 45.75%, 25.96%, 10.53% and 8.84%. The age group performing most exams in men is 25 to 49 and 25 to 54 in women; the number of acts is higher among men 2457 (59.4%) acts compared to women 1679 (40.6%) acts. The collective dose per sex is higher among women with 4487.22 mSv (54.06%) compared to men with 3812.98 mSv (45.94%). Conclusion: Only 2.07% of population of Ngaoundere benefited from a conventional radiology examination in 2018 with an individual effective average dose of 2 mSv. The annual per capita number of acts is 0.02 and annual per capita effective dose is 0.040 mSv in Ngaoundere in 2018.