What measures ESE during an exam?

• A. TLD taped to the patient's skin during the exam
• B. Geiger counter placed on the skin
• C. Film badge worn on clothing
• D. External dosimeter placed in the pocket

Answer: (A)

Entrance surface exposure is the skin dose at the point where the x-ray beam enters the patient. To capture this during an exam, use a dosimeter placed directly on the patient’s skin at the entrance site and read it after the exposure. A thermoluminescent dosimeter taped to the skin provides an accurate measure of the actual skin dose from that specific radiographic event, which is exactly what ESE quantifies.

A Geiger counter on the skin doesn’t give a reliable absorbed dose for a single clinical exposure and isn’t designed to integrate dose over the exposure time. A film badge worn on clothing is intended to monitor staff occupational exposure rather than the patient’s skin dose. An external dosimeter in the pocket measures the wearer’s dose, not the patient’s skin dose.