title: Somatic and genetic radiation exposure of the patient in digital subtraction angiography (DSA)
abstract: The somatic and genetic radiation exposure of patients undergoing Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) and traditional Film Arteriography (FA) of cranial, cervical, thoracic and abdominal vascular territories are compared. The radiation doses absorbed within the critical organs--red bone marrow, lung, thyroid gland and female breast--and in the gonads were measured using an anthropomorphic Alderson phantom. A Somatic Dose Index was calculated in order to estimate the somatic radiation risk. The somatic radiation exposure depends upon the location of the critical organs with respect to the entrance site of the x-ray beam, and can be reduced by an appropriate choice of the angiographic projection. Under this condition, the radiation exposure of the patient during DSA can be lower than during FA. For renal DSA an a.p. projection, the use of an abdominal compression device and careful caudal shielding of the field are advocated.
mesh_terms: D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012306:Risk; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013382:Subtraction Technique / Q000009:adverse effects