Sanne Slegers MSc, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Esther Leung PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The increased number of interventional procedures leads to higher radiation exposure for personnel. We give physicians useful tips for dose optimization and how to increase awareness of scatter radiation. 

Firstly, it is important to optimize the patient dose, as this directly affects the operator dose. Besides minimizing acquisition protocol and fluoroscopy time, other factors that decrease patient dose are using low dose fluoroscopy (fig 1), optimizing patient and detector position (fig 2), optimizing zoom and collimation, using tube filtration, and avoiding steep angulations (fig 3). To further protect the operator, lead shielding can be employed. The effect of lead shielding is evaluated by measuring scatter dose profiles in the x-ray room (fig 4). In circumstances where shielding is not possible, it is advised to increase the distance to the patient. In particular, when using lateral fluoroscopy, the dose can be reduced by standing at the detector side instead of the tube side (fig 5). The visualization of scatter radiation leads in practice to more awareness for, and a reduction of, scatter radiation. Above mentioned points should be instructed to new residents. By actively coaching the physician and monitoring scatter dose during the interventional procedure, considerable dose reduction can be achieved.

http://abstract.rsna.org/uploads/2014/14004351/14004351_nqfx.pdf

Slegers, S, Leung, E, Dose Optimization for Personnel during Interventional Procedures.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14004351.html