[Radiation exposure to patient and radiologist during transcatheter arterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate radiation exposure to patients and radiologists during transcatheter arterial embolization(TAE) for hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
In 39 TAE procedures performed at eight institutes, skin doses were evaluated with thermoluminescence dosimeters at the patient's back(entrance surface) and lower abdomen, and at the radiologist's forehead and abdomen. Real-time dosimeters were also used to evaluate patient skin dose.


RESULTS
The patients' mean entrance surface dose was 973 +/- 681 mGy(range, 185 to 3543 mGy) with the mean fluoroscopic time of 21 minutes and 6 digital subtraction angiography(DSA) acquisitions. The dose at the patients' lower abdomen was 0.98 +/- 0.77 mGy. Doses for the radiologists were 0.04 +/- 0.04 mGy at the forehead and 0.15 +/- 0.19 mGy and 0.005 +/- 0.01 mGy at the abdomen over and under the apron, respectively. Fifty-six percent of the patients' skin dose was from DSA and 44% from fluoroscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient skin dose may occasionally exceed the dose for transient erythema. Because a patient may have repeated TAEs, skin doses or X-ray conditions should be recorded. The exposed doses of radiologists were considered to be acceptable with proper techniques. Further efforts to reduce radiation should be directed toward both DSA and fluoroscopy.
Ishiguchi
T
T
Department of Radiology, Nagoya University School of Medicine.
Nakamura
H
H
Okazaki
M
M
Sawada
S
S
Takayasu
Y
Y
Hashimoto
S
S
Hayashi
N
N
Furui
S
S
Koyama
S
S
Maekoshi
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010820:Physicians; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D011871:Radiology; D011874:Radiometry; D012867:Skin