Poster: ECR 2014 / C-0460 / Evaluating the performance of a photoluminescence glass dosimeter at diagnostic x-ray energies for interventional radiology by: K. Chida 1, M. Kato2, Y. Inaba1, T. Moritake3; 1Sendai/JP, 2Akita/JP, 3Tsukuba/JP
Poster: ECR 2013 / C-0687 / Study on accurate dose mapping system with radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeter (RPLD) measuring the direct patient entrance dose in cardiac interventional procedures. by: M. Kato1, K. Chida2, T. Moritake3, Y. Koguchi4, T. Sato1, H. Oosaka1, T. Tosa1, K. Kadowaki1; 1Akita/JP, 2Sendai/JP, 3Tsukuba/JP, 4Higashiibarakigun Oaraimachi/JP
Radiation protection/evaluation during interventional radiology (IVR) poses a very important problem. Although IVR physicians should wear protective aprons, the IVR physician may not tolerate wearing one for long procedures because protective aprons are generally heavy. In fact, orthopedic problems are increasingly reported in IVR physicians due to the strain of wearing heavy protective aprons during IVR. In recent years, non-Pb protective aprons (lighter weight, composite materials) have been developed. Although non-Pb protective aprons are more expensive than Pb protective aprons, the former aprons weigh less. However, whether the protective performance of non-Pb aprons is sufficient in the IVR clinical setting is unclear. This study compared the ability of non-Pb and Pb protective aprons (0.25- and 0.35-mm Pb-equivalents) to protect physicians from scatter radiation in a clinical setting (IVR, cardiac catheterizations, including percutaneous coronary intervention) using an electric personal dosimeter (EPD). For radiation measurements, physicians wore EPDs: One inside a personal protective apron at the chest, and one outside a personal protective apron at the chest. Physician comfort levels in each apron during procedures were also evaluated. As a result, performance (both the shielding effect (98.5%) and comfort (good)) of the non-Pb 0.35-mm-Pb-equivalent protective apron was good in the clinical setting. The radiation-shielding effects of the non-Pb 0.35-mm and Pb 0.35-mm-Pb-equivalent protective aprons were very similar. Therefore, non-Pb 0.35-mm Pb-equivalent protective aprons may be more suitable for providing radiation protection for IVR physicians because the shielding effect and comfort are both good in the clinical IVR setting. As non-Pb protective aprons are nontoxic and weigh less than Pb protective aprons, non-Pb protective aprons will be the preferred type for radiation protection of IVR staff, especially physicians.
Although numerous patients derive great benefit from interventional procedures, a serious disadvantage associated with interventional procedures is patient radiation dose. Therefore, interventionalists should be aware of how to reduce the radiation dose to their patients. Currently, no conclusive method for reducing radiation dose is available for interventional procedures; hence, it is necessary to combine various methods. In addition, in order to reduce the radiation injury risk in interventional procedures, evaluation of patient radiation dose is essential. Generally, the tradeoff for a decrease in radiation dose is a loss in image performance. Therefore, optimization of radiation dose and image performance is important in interventional procedures.