A readout on the fluoroscopic monitor that indicates air kerma striking the surface of the patient is:

A readout on the fluoroscopic monitor that indicates air kerma striking the surface of the patient is:

• A. mA meter
• B. Dose Area Product (DAP) meter
• C. ESD meter
• D. kVp meter

Answer: (C)

Measuring the dose at the patient’s skin entrance is what this readout shows. That readout corresponds to the entrance skin dose, or skin kerma, which is what the ESD meter is designed to indicate. The mA meter only reflects the tube current, which influences dose but does not show the actual skin dose. The Dose Area Product meter records the dose multiplied by the exposed area, giving a measure of overall exposure that accounts for beam size, not the instantaneous skin dose at the surface. The kVp meter measures the tube voltage, not the dose delivered to the patient. Because the goal is to monitor the radiation actually reaching the skin, the appropriate device is the ESD meter.

Measuring the dose at the patient’s skin entrance is what this readout shows. That readout corresponds to the entrance skin dose, or skin kerma, which is what the ESD meter is designed to indicate. The mA meter only reflects the tube current, which influences dose but does not show the actual skin dose. The Dose Area Product meter records the dose multiplied by the exposed area, giving a measure of overall exposure that accounts for beam size, not the instantaneous skin dose at the surface. The kVp meter measures the tube voltage, not the dose delivered to the patient. Because the goal is to monitor the radiation actually reaching the skin, the appropriate device is the ESD meter.