Assessment of patient's peak skin dose during abdominopelvic embolization using radiochromic (Gafchromic) films

Abstract Purpose To assess the value of the routine use of radiochromic films in abdominopelvic embolization procedures to improve patient follow-up. Methods A total of 55 patients who underwent transcatheter abdominopelvic embolization were prospectively included. Six types of procedures were evaluated including hepatic chemoembolization (HCE), gonadal veins embolization (GVE), uterine elective embolization (UEE), uterine urgent embolization (UUE), abdominal elective embolization (AEE), and abdominal urgent embolization (AUE). Dosimetric indicators (DIs) such as air-kerma (AK) and kerma-area-product (KAP) were collected and peak skin dose (PSD) was measured with radiochromic films. Correlations between PSD and DIs were searched for. Results The mean (±standard deviation [SD]) PSD for the various procedures were: 1033 ± 502 mGy for HCE; 476 ± 271 mGy for GVE; 460 ± 171 mGy for UEE; 531 ± 263 mGy for UUE; 708 ± 896 mGy for AEE; 683 ± 392 mGy for AUE. Strong correlations were observed between PSD and DIs ( r  = 0.974 for AK and r  = 0.925 for KAP). PSD was > 2 Gy in one procedure and all procedures (7/132) procedures resulted in AK > 2 Gy, mostly for HCE and AEE. Conclusion Dosimetry using radiochromic film is only appropriate for HCE, AEE and AUE, whereas dose-mapping systems present a more suitable solution for all embolizations including those with AK that occasionally exceed 2 Gy.