title: Decrease in patient radiation exposure by a tantalum filter during electrophysiological procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Minimization of X-ray exposure remains a primary issue in cardiac electrophysiology. The effectiveness of X-ray beam filtration during cardiac electrophysiological procedures was therefore studied, using a 0.05-mm-thick tantalum (Ta) foil, as a filter on the primary X-ray beam, to reduce the patient dose without degradation of image quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preliminary tests were made on a phantom developed with polymethylmethacrylate, catheters, and guide wires. The filter was then used in patients during cardiac procedures. Identical patient images were obtained with and without the Ta filter insertion and the ratio between image quality and patient dose was evaluated. Changes in patient dose and signal-to-noise ratio, as image quality index were measured on the phantom and in patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When the Ta filter was used, the mean effective individual patient dose decreased by 3 to 40% (mean reduction = 27%), with no perceivable difference in image quality estimated by electrophysiologists. This Ta filter may be useful to limit the radiation exposure of patients and operators during cardiac procedures.
authors.affiliation: O.U. of Medical Physics, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier Luca
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariselli
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Corazza
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biffi
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martignani
authors.forename: Romano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zannoli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boriani
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D013635:Tantalum
chemical_list: D013635:Tantalum