title: Radiation safety of personnel during catheter-based Ir-192 coronary brachytherapy.
abstract: Catheter-based brachytherapy using Ir-192 seed sources has shown significant reduction in the rate of restenosis among patients with coronary in-stent restenosis. High-energy gamma rays from Ir-192 raise some radiation safety issues of personnel. The aim of this study was to fully analyze the radiation safety issues associated with Ir-192 brachytherapy in the cardiac cath lab environment. Measurements were made to assess the penetrating ability of Ir-192 gamma rays through tissues, concrete and lead. Radiation exposure levels were measured around a large number of patients undergoing Ir-192 brachytherapy. Personnel were carefully monitored for any additional dose received from brachytherapy for the last five years covering > 500 cases. Our results showed that with a proper radiation safety program in place, the dose to cath lab staff was negligible. It was concluded that radiation safety of personnel was easy to maintain during catheter-based coronary brachytherapy using Ir-192 seed sources.
authors.affiliation: Director of Medical Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology, MSB1, Scripps Clinic, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA. sjani@scripps.edu
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steuterman
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Huppe
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000398:Air Pollution, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods; D002140:California; D002404:Catheterization; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000528:radiation effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage
chemical_list: D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes