title: CHARACTERIZATION AND EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENTS OF SCATTER DOSE AT CARDIOLOGIST'S EYES DURING PAEDIATRIC INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY PROCEDURES IN COSTA RICA.
abstract: This paper presents the results of the first characterization and experimental measurements of scatter dose at cardiologist's eyes for the only X-ray system that performs all paediatric Interventional cardiology procedures in Costa Rica. Entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) and the scatter dose values were measured on phantoms of 4-20 cm thicknesses of polymethyl methacrylate slabs. Image quality was evaluated using DICOM images of a test object Leeds TOR 18-FG, through the numerical parameters signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), high-contrast spatial resolution (HCSR) and figure of merit (FOM). When PMMA thickness is increased and during a move from low fluoroscopy to cine modes, ESAK, SNR, HCSR and FOM values range from 0.44 to 391.0 μGy fr-1; 2.8 to 14.89; 3.17 to 15.54 and 0.51 to 79.94, respectively. The highest scattered dose rates recorded during the simulations were 1.79 and 8.04 mSv h-1 for the high fluoroscopy and cine modes, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Medical Technology Department, Study Center in Radiological Sciences (CECRAD), Health Sciences Faculty, Tarapaca University, Arica, Chile.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ubeda
authors.affiliation: Quality Control and Radiological Protection Department, Social Security, San Jose, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.affiliation: National Children's Hospital, San Jose, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Retana
authors.affiliation: Quality Control and Radiological Protection Department, Social Security, San Jose, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Freddy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Quality Control and Radiological Protection Department, Social Security, San Jose, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.affiliation: National Children's Hospital, San Jose, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sáenz
authors.affiliation: Quality Control and Radiological Protection Department, Social Security, San Jose, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Cristhian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quesada
authors.affiliation: Quality Control and Radiological Protection Department, Social Security, San Jose, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gavarrete
authors.affiliation: Quality Control and Radiological Protection Department, Social Security, San Jose, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picado
authors.affiliation: San Juan de Dios National Hospital, Social Security, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arce
mesh_terms: D002309:Cardiology; D002648:Child; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003364:Costa Rica; D005123:Eye / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate