An Approximation of The Thyroid Gland Radiation Dose from Panoramic Radiation Imaging at Two Dental Clinics in Tripoli, Libya

Abstract

Dental panoramic radiography (DPR) is crucial for diagnosing various dental diseases. This type of exposure is particularly concerning because a key feature of different types of ionizing radiation is their ability to penetrate the body and affect tissues. The increasing number of panoramic radiographs taken in Libya, coupled with a lack of awareness regarding radiation doses, hinders effective evaluation of radiation exposure management for patients. This study was conducted to assess the radiation dose received by the thyroid gland in patients referred to two general dentistry clinics in Tripoli, Libya, for Direct Panoramic Radiography (DPR). About 160 patients were randomly selected from a population aged 11–60 years who were referred to two of the busiest hospitals in the Tripoli area, Tripoli Medical Center (TMC) and Plastic Surgery Hospital (PSH), between June and December 2025.  On average, 80 patients were referred to TMC and 80 to PSH. The recorded data included age and exposure parameters such as applied potential (kVp) and current-time product (mAs). Females at Plastic Surgery Hospital consistently received the highest thyroid doses across all age groups, exceeding 5 μGy. Males at the same hospital had lower doses, ranging from 3.7 to 3.7 μGy. Patients at Tripoli Medical Center, regardless of gender, received significantly lower doses: females between 2.5 and 2.2 μGy, and males between 1.6 and 1.9 μGy. The gender difference remains consistent: females receive higher thyroid doses than males within the same age group. Overall, thyroid dose tends to decrease with age in most groups.