Diagnostic Reference Level
An investigation level of radiation dose established for standard radiographic examinations, used to identify unusually high or low dose practices and guide optimisation.
Full Definition
A diagnostic reference level (DRL) is a dose benchmark set by national or international authorities for a given standard radiographic examination performed on a reference patient. In dental radiology, DRLs are published for common procedures such as full-mouth periapical surveys, panoramic radiographs, and CBCT examinations. Practices whose doses consistently exceed the DRL are expected to review and optimise their techniques, while practices well below the DRL should assess whether image quality is being compromised. Editors of radiological guidelines and dose audit publications must capitalise 'Diagnostic Reference Level' when referring to the specific regulatory concept and use the abbreviation 'DRL' consistently after first use. The DRL is not a dose limit and should never be described as such.
Usage
Usage note: Critical editorial note: a DRL is NOT a dose limit. Documents that describe DRLs as limits must be corrected. Expand 'DRL' at first use and capitalise the full form when referring to the regulatory concept.
In Context
- "The national diagnostic reference level for a full-mouth periapical survey was used as the benchmark in the practice's annual dose audit." — Dose audit report
- "The author incorrectly described the diagnostic reference level as a maximum permitted dose; the editor inserted a clarifying parenthetical." — Clinical guidelines manuscript editing