Radiation exposure of operator performing interventional procedures using a flat panel angiography system: evaluation with photoluminescence glass dosimeters.
OBJECTIVE
Using glass rod dosimeters we investigated the radiation dose to the operator performing interventional procedures in 43 patients with the aid of a monoplane flat detector-based angiography system.


METHODS
During the procedures we recorded the number of radiographic frames and the radiographic conditions. After treatment we recorded the fluoroscopy time and the fluoroscopic, radiographic, and total air kerma. To obtain the total operator exposure dose we took measurements at five sites: left orbital fossa, thyroid, left hand, left chest, and pubic symphysis.


RESULTS
The mean operator exposure dose to the left hand was higher than at the other sites we measured; it was 387.0, 209.6, 174.3, and 237.1 microGy for the stentgraft, percutaneous transluminal arteriography, transarterial chemoembolization, and hepatic infusion port placement procedures. There was a positive correlation between the fluoroscopic and radiographic air kerma value and the operator exposure dose at the left orbital fossa, thyroid, and left hand.


CONCLUSIONS
The operator exposure dose correlated with the radiographic and fluoroscopic air kerma. Exposure of the operator's left hand was higher than at the other sites studied.
Funama
Yoshinori
Y
Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 4-24-1 Kuhonji, Kumamoto, 862-0976, Japan. funama@kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Nagasue
Nozomu
N
Awai
Kazuo
K
Sakamoto
Ichiro
I
Kakei
Kiyotaka
K
Shimamura
Masamichi
M
Yamashita
Yasuyuki
Y
Uetani
Masataka
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005373:Film Dosimetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D013679:Technology, Radiologic