Background and purpose: Increasing number of patients undergoing x-ray examinations has created a global concern due to the deleterious biological effects associated with x-ray exposure. Adherence to ionizing radiation protection principles could be of great benefit in decreasing these effects. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to survey radiation protection in diagnostic x-ray imaging in Iran using systematic review of published articles.

Materials and methods: Without any time limitation, some databases including SID, Magiran, IranMedex, Irandoc, Google-Scholar, Medlin, Embase and PubMed were searched. A total of 122 articles was obtained during the primary research. After elimination of duplicate and irrelevant articles, 39 articles (published in 1997 to 2015) were selected for final review.

Results: The researches were performed in conventional radiology centers (n=24), dental radiography (n= 8), nuclear medicine (n=2), mammography (n= 1), computed tomography (n=1), dental radiography and radiology (n= 1), and total diagnostic X-ray departments (n= 2). Totally, 874 diagnostic centers and 1677 radiographers were studied. These studies revealed undesirable level of radiation protection regarding the use of shielding tools for patients, radiation collimation, use of film bag in dental radiography, and quality control programs. But, environmental radiation doses and the use of film bag in radiology centers were found to be in appropriate level.

Conclusion: Despite increasing application of x-ray in medical diagnosis, radiation protection did not considerably change in Iran. So a national strategic program on radiation protection seems to be necessary. Such programs must be developed by ministry of health and radiation protection affairs of national atomic energy organization and its administration must be monitored permanently.