title: Neuropsychological Testing in Interventional Cardiology Staff after Long-Term Exposure to Ionizing Radiation.
abstract: This study aimed at comparing neuropsychological test scores in 83 cardiologists and nurses (exposed group, EG) working in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, and 83 control participants (non exposed group, nEG), to explore possible cognitive impairments. The neuropsychological assessment was carried out by means of a battery called "Esame Neuropsicologico Breve." EG participants showed significantly lower scores on the delayed recall, visual short-term memory, and semantic lexical access ability than the nEG ones. No dose response could be detected. EG participants showed lower memory and verbal fluency performances, as compared with nEG. These reduced skills suggest alterations of some left hemisphere structures that are more exposed to IR in interventional cardiology staff. On the basis of these findings, therefore, head protection would be a mandatory good practice to reduce effects of head exposure to ionizing radiation among invasive cardiology personnel (and among other exposed professionals).
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,University of Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marazziti
authors.affiliation: 2Clinical Psychology Branch,Pisa University Hospital,Pisa,Italy, andAuxilium Vitae Volterra,Volterra,Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomaiuolo
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,University of Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dell'Osso
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,University of Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Demi
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,University of Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campana
authors.affiliation: 3Ospedale "L. Sacco",Milano,Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piccaluga
authors.affiliation: 4Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII,Cardio-vascular Department,Bergamo,Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guagliumi
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,University of Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conversano
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,University of Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.affiliation: 5Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica,CNR,Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Andreassi
authors.affiliation: 5Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica,CNR,Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Picano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000528:radiation effects; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000528:radiation effects; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D015642:Radiology, Interventional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013060:Speech / Q000528:radiation effects
keywords: Brain; Invasive cardiology; Ionizing radiation; Left hemisphere; Neuropsychological tests; Professional exposure