Increased radiation dose by automatic exposure control system during fluoroscopy and angiography of pelvis due to contrast material in the bladder: experimental study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the increase of radiation dose caused by contrast material excreted in the bladder during vascular interventional procedures of the pelvis.


METHODS
A latex balloon filled with diluted contrast material, simulating the bladder, was placed in a water phantom. Entrance dose rates were measured under various conditions with and without the balloon. In animal experiments, skin doses during fluoroscopy and angiographic image acquisitions were measured at the pelvis of a swine before and after the contrast was excreted in the bladder.


RESULTS
In phantom experiments, fluoroscopic dose rates increased 1.3- to 3.9-fold when the contrast-filled balloon was placed at the periphery of the phantom. The dose rates increased 3.0- to 4.0-fold when the balloon was placed at the center. In the animal experiment, dose rates increased 1.4- to 2.0-fold when the bladder was filled with contrast material. Skin doses during 10-second angiographic image acquisition also increased 1.1- to 2.3-fold when the bladder was filled with contrast.


CONCLUSIONS
When the bladder is filled with excreted contrast material, skin doses delivered by fluoroscopy and angiography will increase. Removal of urine is recommended during vascular interventional procedures of the pelvis.
Department of Radiology, Aichi Medical University, 21 Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi 480-1195, JAPAN.
Atsushi
A
Nakamura
Tsuneo
T
Ishiguchi
Seiji
S
Kamei
Joe
J
Matsuda
Kazuko
K
Ohno
Katsuhito
K
Murata
D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000818:Animals; D001027:Aortography; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010388:Pelvis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D011874:Radiometry; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects; D013552:Swine; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014556:Urine
D003287:Contrast Media