Typical doses to exposed tissue

received in routine X-ray diagnosis

examination dose per exposure in milligray (mGy)*

X-ray photograph

chest 0.4–10

abdominal 10

extremities 2.5–10

fluoroscopy 100–200 per minute

X-ray movies 250 per examination

CAT scan 50–100 per examination

*Milligray is a unit of absorbed radiation dose; it corresponds to 1/1,000 joule of radiation energy absorbed per kilogram of tissue.