Radiation dose optimization in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). I. Experimental studies

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence on image quality and dose to the patient and operator of various equipment settings for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and to optimize the set-up. With an Alderson phantom, different settings, such as projection, protective screens, filtration, image intensifier size and collimation, were evaluated. Kerma-area product (KAP) was recorded as a measure of patient dose and scattered radiation was measured with an ionization chamber. Effective dose for a standardized PCI procedure was measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters inside the phantom. Image quality was evaluated with a contrast-detail phantom. Based on these findings, the equipment set-up was optimized to a low fluoroscopy dose rate with a sufficient image quality. Several operating parameters affected dose, particularly scattered radiation. The optimization reduced the fluoroscopy KAP rate from 44 to 16 mGy cm(2)/s using 15 cm of acrylic. The effective dose was reduced from 13 to 4.6 mSv for a standardized PCI procedure. Radiation dose to patient and operator in PCI is heavily dependent on both equipment set-up and operating parameters which can be influenced by the operator. With a careful optimization, a large reduction of radiation dose is possible.     

Evaluation of patient-absorbed doses during coronary angiography and intervention by femoral and radial artery access

The aim of this study was to compare the radiation dose to patients during coronary angiography (CA) and coronary intervention (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, PTCA) by the femoral or radial artery access routes. A plane-parallel ionisation chamber, mounted on an under-couch X-ray tube (Siemens Coroskop TOP with an optional dose reduction system), recorded the dose-area product (DAP) to the patient from 40 coronary angiographies and 42 coronary interventions by the femoral route. The corresponding numbers for radial access were 36 and 24, respectively. Using a human-shaped phantom, conversion factors between maximum entrance surface dose and DAP were derived for CA and CA plus PTCA, respectively. The dose to the staff was measured with TL dosimeters for 22 examinations. Fluoroscopy time and DAP were significantly (p=0.003) larger using the radial access route for coronary angiography (7.5 min, 51 Gy cm²) than the corresponding values obtained from femoral access route (4.6 min, 38 Gy cm²). For CA plus PTCA the fluoroscopy time and DAP were larger for radial access (18.4 min, 75 Gy cm²) than for femoral access (12.5 min, 47 Gy cm²; p=0.013). In our experience, radial access did significantly prolong the fluoroscopy time and increase the patient doses.     

A national patient dose survey and setting of reference levels for interventional radiology in Bulgaria

Objectives

A national study on patient dose values in interventional radiology and cardiology was performed in order to assess current practice in Bulgaria, to estimate the typical patient doses and to propose reference levels for the most common procedures.

Methods

Fifteen units and more than 1,000 cases were included. Average values of the measured parameters for three procedures—coronary angiography (CA), combined procedure (CA?+?PCI) and lower limb arteriography (LLA)—were compared with data published in the literature.

Results

Substantial variations were observed in equipment and procedure protocols used. This resulted in variations in patient dose: air-kerma area product ranges were 4–339, 6–1,003 and 0.2–288 Gy cm² for CA, CA?+?PCI and LLA respectively. Reference levels for air kerma-area product were proposed: 40 Gy cm² for CA, 140 Gy cm² for CA?+?PCI and 45 Gy cm² for LLA. Auxiliary reference intervals were proposed for other dose-related parameters: fluoroscopy time, number of images and entrance surface air kerma rate in fluoroscopy and cine mode.

Conclusions

There is an apparent necessity for improvement in the classification of peripheral procedures and for standardisation of the protocols applied. It is important that patient doses are routinely recorded and compared with reference levels.

Key Points

? Patient doses in interventional radiology are high and vary greatly ? Better standardisation of procedures and techniques is needed to improve practice ? Dose reference levels for most common procedures are proposed     

Radiation dose to the operator during fluoroscopically guided spine procedures

Purpose

Fluoroscopy is widely used to guide diagnostic and therapeutic spine procedures. The purpose of this study was to quantify radiation incident on the operator (operator Air Kerma) during a wide range of fluoroscopy-guided spine procedures and its correlation with the amount of radiation incident on the patient (Kerma Area Product—KAP).

Methods

We retrospectively included 57 consecutive fluoroscopically guided spine procedures. KAP [Gy cm²] and total fluoroscopy time were recorded for each procedure. An electronic dosimeter recorded the operator Air Kerma [μGy] for each procedure. Operator Air Kerma for each procedure, correlation between KAP and operator Air Kerma, and between KAP and fluoroscopy time was obtained.

Results

Operator Air Kerma was widely variable across procedures, with median value of 6.4 μGy per procedure. Median fluoroscopy time and median KAP per procedure were 2.6 min and 4.7 Gy cm², respectively. There was correlation between operator Air Kerma and KAP (r ² = 0.60), with a slope of 1.6 μGy Air Kerma per unit Gy cm² KAP incident on the patient and between fluoroscopy time and KAP (r ² = 0.63).

Conclusion

Operator Air Kerma during individual fluoroscopy-guided spine procedures can be approximated from the commonly and readily available information of the total amount of radiation incident on the patient, measured as KAP.

     

Digital radiography of scoliosis with a scanning method: radiation dose optimization

The aim of this study was optimization of the radiation dose–image quality relationship for a digital scanning method of scoliosis radiography. The examination is performed as a digital multi-image translation scan that is reconstructed to a single image in a workstation. Entrance dose was recorded with thermoluminescent dosimeters placed dorsally on an Alderson phantom. At the same time, kerma area product (KAP) values were recorded. A Monte Carlo calculation of effective dose was also made. Image quality was evaluated with a contrast-detail phantom and Visual Grading. The radiation dose was reduced by lowering the image intensifier entrance dose request, adjusting pulse frequency and scan speed, and by raising tube voltage. The calculated effective dose was reduced from 0.15 to 0.05 mSv with reduction of KAP from 1.07 to 0.25 Gy cm² and entrance dose from 0.90 to 0.21 mGy. The image quality was reduced with the Image Quality Figure going from 52 to 62 and a corresponding reduction in image quality as assessed with Visual Grading. The optimization resulted in a dose reduction to 31% of the original effective dose with an acceptable reduction in image quality considering the intended use of the images for angle measurements. Electronic Publication     

Radiation dose and image quality in diagnostic radiology. Optimization of the dose-image quality relationship with clinical experience from scoliosis radiography,coronary intervention and a flat-panel digital detector

X-rays are known to cause malignancies, skin damage and other side effects and they are thus potentially dangerous. Therefore, it is essential and in fact mandatory to reduce the radiation dose in diagnostic radiology as far as possible. This is also known as the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle. However, the dose is linked to image quality and the image quality may not be lowered so far that it jeopardizes the diagnostic outcome of a radiographic procedure. The process of reaching this balance between dose and image quality is called optimization. The aim of this thesis was to propose and evaluate methods for optimizing the radiation dose-image quality relationship in diagnostic radiography with a focus on clinical usefulness. The work was performed in three main parts. OPTIMIZATION OF SCOLIOSIS RADIOGRAPHY: In the first part, two recently developed methods for digital scoliosis radiography (digital exposure and pulse fluoroscopy) were evaluated and compared to the standard screen-film method. Radiation dose was measured as kerma area-product (KAP), entrance surface dose (ESD) and effective dose; image quality was assessed with a contrast-detail phantom and through visual grading analysis. Accuracy in angle measurements was also evaluated. The radiation dose for digital exposure was nearly twice as high as the screen-film method at a comparable image quality while the dose for pulsed fluoroscopy was very low but with a considerably lower image quality. The variability in angle measurements was sufficiently low for all methods. Then, the digital exposure protocol was optimized to a considerably lower dose with a slightly lower image quality compared to the baseline. FLAT-PANEL DETECTOR: In the second part, an amorphous-silicon direct digital flat-panel detector was evaluated using a contrast-detail phantom, measuring dose as entrance dose. The flat-panel detector yielded a superior image quality at a lower dose than both storage phosphor plates and screen-film. Equivalent image quality compared to storage phosphor plates was reached at about one-third of the dose. OPTIMIZATION OF PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION (PCI): In the third part, influence of various settings on radiation dose and image quality in coronary catheterisation and PCI was investigated. Based on these findings, the dose rate for fluoroscopy was reduced to one-third. The dose reduction was evaluated in a clinical series of 154 PCI procedures before and 138 after the optimization. Through this optimization, the total KAP was significantly reduced to two-thirds of the original value. IN SUMMARY: This thesis indicates the possibility of dose reduction in diagnostic radiology through optimization of the radiographic process.     

Comparison of Patient Dose in Two-Dimensional Carotid Arteriography and Three-Dimensional Rotational Angiography

Background and Purpose It is known that interventional neuroradiology (IN) involves high radiation dose to both patients and staff even if performed by trained operators using modern fluoroscopic X-ray equipment and dose-reducing technology. Therefore, every new technology or imaging tool introduced, such as three-dimensional rotational angiography (3D RA), should be evaluated in terms of radiation dose. 3D RA requires a series with a large number of images in comparison with 2D angiography and it is sometimes considered a high-dose IN procedure. The literature is scarce on the 3D RA radiation dose and in particular there are no data on carotid arteriography (CA). The aim of this study was to investigate patient dose differences between 2D and 3D CA. Methods The study included 35 patients undergoing 2D CA in hospital 1 and 25 patients undergoing 3D CA in hospital 2. Patient technical data collection included information on the kerma area product (KAP), fluoroscopy time (T), total number of series (S), and total number of acquired images (F). Results Median KAP was 112 Gy cm² and 41 Gy cm² for hospitals 1 and 2, respectively, median T was 8.2 min and 5.1 min, median S was 13 and 4, and median F was 247 and 242. Entrance surface air-kerma rate, as measured in “medium” fluoroscopy mode measured in 2D acquisition using a 20 cm phantom of polymethylmethacrylate, was 17.3 mGy/min for hospital 1 and 9.2 mGy/min for hospital 2. Conclusion 3D CA allows a substantial reduction in patient radiation dose compared with 2D CA, while providing the necessary diagnostic information.     

Radiation exposure and patient experience during percutaneous coronary intervention using radial and femoral artery access

The aim of this study was to evaluate radiation dose and patient discomfort/pain in radial artery access vs femoral artery access in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Dose–area product (DAP) was measured non-randomised for 114 procedures using femoral access and for 55 using radial access. The patients also responded to a questionnaire concerning discomfort and pain during and after the procedure. The mean DAP was 69.8 Gy cm² using femoral access and 70.5 Gy cm² using radial access. Separating the access site from confounding factors with a multiple regression, there was a 13% reduction in DAP when using radial access (p=0.038). Procedure times did not differ (p=0.81). Bed confinement was much longer in the femoral access group (448 vs 76 min, p=0.000). With femoral access, there was a significantly higher patient grading for chest (p=0.001) and back pain (p=0.003) during the procedure and for access site (p=0.000) and back pain (p=0.000) after the procedure. Thirty-two femoral access patients (28%) were given morphine-type analgesics in the post-procedure period compared to three radial access patients (5%, p=0.001). DAP does not increase when using radial instead of femoral access and the patients grade discomfort and pain much lower when using radial access. Radial access is thus beneficial to use.     

Patient radiation exposure during coronary angiography and intervention

Purpose: To prospectively register fluoroscopic and cine times in a random fashion, and to measure patient radiation exposure from routine coronary angiography and coronary balloon angioplasty. We also evaluated an optional dose reduction system used during interventions.Material and Methods: The incident radiation to the patient was measured as kerma area product (KAP) in Gycm², obtained from an ionisation chamber mounted on the undercouch tube during 65 coronary angiography procedures and another 53 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties (including 29 stent procedures), mostly directly following complete coronary angiography.Results and Conclusion: The values from coronary angiography were comparable to other reports with a mean fluoroscopic time of 4.4 min and a mean KAP value of 62.6 Gycm². The corresponding figures from coronary balloon angioplasty without stenting were lower than otherwise reported, with 8.2 min and 47.9 Gycm², respectively. The use of coronary stents did prolong the mean fluoroscopic time (10.5 min) but did not significantly enhance the patient mean radiation dose (51.4 Gycm²). The dose reduction technique resulted in a significant KAP value reduction of 57%. In conclusion, with regard to radiation exposure, coronary angiography and balloon angioplasty are considered safe procedures.     

用胶片法对心脏介入程序中患者峰值皮肤剂量测量研究

目的 采用胶片法对进行心血管介入手术中患者所受峰值皮肤剂量（PSD）进行测量研究,包括冠状动脉血管造影术（CA）和经皮穿刺腔内冠状动脉成形术（PTCA）。方法 选用Gafchromic XR-RV3胶片在两家医院进行患者峰值皮肤剂量的测量。手术时将胶片放在患者身下的诊视床上。记录手术中监视器上显示的kV、mA、透视时间、剂量面积乘积（DAP）、参考点累积剂量等相关信息。采用Epson V750平板扫描仪对胶片进行分析扫描及分析,选用FilmQA软件分别测量图像的红、绿、蓝三色通道的像素值,使用红通道数据计算患者的 PSD。对PSD与设备显示参数进行相关分析,对相关的变量进行多元线性回归分析。结果 共测量CA手术26例,CA+PTCA手术19例。CA手术中,透视时间最高为17.62 min,累积剂量和DAP最大分别为1 498.50 mGy和109.68 Gy ·cm²,PSD最大为361.20 mGy。CA+PTCA手术中,曝光时间最长为64.48 min,累积剂量和DAP最大分别为6 976.20 mGy和5 336.00 Gy ·cm²,17例患者的PSD在1 Gy以内,1例患者PSD在1~2 Gy之间,1例患者PSD超出了发生皮肤损伤2 Gy的阈值,达到了2 195.70 mGy。CA程序中,患者PSD与DAP相关（R²=0.815,P<0.05）,CA+PTCA程序中,患者PSD与累积剂量相关（R²=0.916,P<0.05）。结论 心脏介入放射学程序中部分患者的PSD会超出ICRP建议的发生皮肤确定性效应的2 Gy阈值。DSA设备上显示的剂量相关的参数,只能粗略估算患者PSD的大小。使用XR-RV3胶片精确测量介入手术中患者的峰值皮肤剂量是一种非常快捷、有效的方法。     

A Nordic survey of patient doses in diagnostic radiology

The aim of this study was to test the applicability of the guidance levels for patient doses cooperatively set by the radiation protection authorities in the five Nordic countries. The kerma-area product (KAP) for five conventional radiological examination types was obtained from several hospitals in each of the Nordic countries. The number of radiographic images and fluoroscopy time were also registered, and the mean values for each examination type and hospital were established based on a representative number of patients (40–100 kg). The results indicate that the situation is very similar in the five Nordic countries, even though some differences were identified. Most of the hospitals demonstrated lower doses than the proposed guidance levels for chest, probably explained by use of faster film/screen combinations during the past decade. An increased use of fluoroscopy for positioning was observed for radiographic examinations of lumbar spine and urography. Large variations in patient doses were found for barium enema depending on the use of fluorospot or 100-mm camera vs full-format film, the range in fluoroscopy times, dose rate, and field size. The guidance levels for lumbar spine (10 Gy × cm²), pelvis (4 Gy × cm²), urography (20 Gy × cm²), and barium enema (50 Gy × cm²) seem to reflect the present quality of X-ray equipment and examination techniques in the Nordic countries. The guidance levels for chest (1 Gy × cm²) should be lowered to 0.6 Gy × cm². Received: 28 February 2000, Revised: 18 May 2000, Accepted: 22 May 2000     

蒙特卡罗方法评估冠状动脉介入术中患者器官剂量的转换系数

目的通过蒙特卡罗方法模拟计算剂量面积乘积(DAP)致相关器官吸收剂量的转换系数, 从而为评估冠状动脉介入术中患者的器官剂量提供便利。方法使用Geant4蒙特卡罗软件构建人体和辐射场模型, 模拟计算并得到器官吸收剂量转换系数。结果在冠状动脉造影(CAG)中, 肺、骨髓、肝脏、心脏的转换系数, 男性分别为(0.283 ± 0.068)、(0.169± 0.049)、(0.110 ± 0.077)、(0.080 ± 0.032)mGy/(Gy·cm2), 女性分别为(0.376 ± 0.121)、(0.192 ± 0.056)、(0.153 ± 0.105)、(0.102 ± 0.033)mGy/(Gy·cm2), 与经皮冠脉介入治疗(PCI)中对应器官的转换系数相近。不同介入术的DAP差异具有统计学意义(t=-6.012, P<0.05)。性别组间的DAP差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论器官吸收剂量的转换系数在同一性别组内与冠状动脉造影和经皮介入治疗的相关性较小, 但同一术组中女性的剂量转换系数通常高于男性。蒙特卡罗方法计算的剂量面积乘积(DAP)致器官吸收剂量的转换系...     

Evaluation of exposure dose to patients undergoing catheter ablation procedures—a phantom study

The aim of this study was to evaluate entrance skin dose (ESD), organ dose and effective dose to patients undergoing catheter ablation for cardiac arrhythmias, based on the dosimetry in an anthropomorphic phantom. ESD values associated with mean fluoroscopy time and digital cine frames were in a range of 0.12–0.30 Gy in right anterior oblique (RAO) and 0.05–0.40 Gy in left anterior oblique (LAO) projection, the values which were less than a threshold dose of 2 Gy for the onset of skin injury. Organs that received high doses in ablation procedures were lung, followed by bone surface, esophagus, liver and red bone marrow. Doses for lung were 24.8–122.7 mGy, and effective doses were 7.9–34.8 mSv for mean fluoroscopy time of 23.4–92.3 min and digital cine frames of 263–511. Conversion coefficients of dose-area product (DAP) to ESD were 8.7 mGy/(Gy·cm²) in RAO and 7.4 mGy/(Gy·cm²) in LAO projection. The coefficients of DAP to the effective dose were 0.37 mSv/(Gy·cm²) in RAO, and 0.41 mSv/(Gy·cm²) in LAO projection. These coefficients enabled us to estimate patient exposure in real time by using monitored values of DAP.     

心血管介入手术中透视时间作为辐射剂量警示指标的可行性研究

目的以心血管介入术后采集空气比释动能(reference air kerma,AK)值和剂量面积乘积(dose-area product,DAP)值数据为依据,分析术中透视时间报警设置作为心血管介入手术辐射剂量的监测和警示工具的可行性。方法回顾性分析2016年11月至2018年1月上海长海医院736例冠状动脉造影术(CAG)和经皮冠状动脉治疗术(PCI)病例,收集术中透视时间、AK和DAP数据资料。德国西门子成像设备分组(Ceiling系统和Biplane系统)和手术类型分组(CAG和PCI),对辐射剂量数据进行比较,以及对心血管介入手术AK和DAP值与透视时间数据采用Spearman检验解析相关性。结果Ceiling和Biplane成像系统中手术透视时间为(8.9±7.8)和(8.6±7.3)min,透视AK均值和DAP均值分别为(472±474)、(510±509)mGy、(4548±4085)和(4255±3781)μGy·m^2,术中总(透视+造影)AK和DAP均值为(703±595)、(733±614)mGy、(6253±4938)和(5681±4432)μGy·m^2。CAG与PCI术中透视时间均值分别为(2.4±0.9)和(15.7±4.9)min。PCI透视辐射剂量(AK和DAP)与术中总辐射剂量比值分别为74%和78%。心血管介入手术中透视时间与AK值(r=0.822)和DAP值(r=0.844)都呈高度相关性(P<0.001)。结论透视采集辐射剂量是心血管介入手术中辐射剂量的主要来源,辐射剂量随透视时间延长而增加,透视时间监测和报警设置在心血管介入临床应用中作为术中辐射防护工具有一定的参考和警示价值。     

Radiation Dose in Prostatic Artery Embolization Using Cone-Beam CT and 3D Roadmap Software

PurposeTo evaluate the radiation dose in patients undergoing prostatic artery embolization (PAE) using cone-beam CT and 3-dimensional (3D) guidance software.Materials and MethodsIn this single-center retrospective study, 100 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (mean prostate volume, 83.6 mL ± 44.2; 69.4 ± 9.6 years of age; body mass index, 26.5 ± 4.2) were treated using PAE between October 2016 and April 2018. Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study. All patients received at least 1 intraprocedural cone-beam CT per side for evaluation of the vessel anatomy and software rendering of 3D guidance for catheter guidance. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed in the distal branches only. The total dose area product (DAP), along with the DAP attributed to fluoroscopy, DSA, and cone-beam CT, were assessed.ResultsBilateral embolization was achieved in 83 patients (83%). The average total DAP was 134.4 Gy ⋅ cm² ± 69.5 (range, 44.7–410.9 Gy ⋅ cm²). Fluoroscopy, DSA, and cone-beam CT accounted for 35.5 Gy ⋅ cm² ± 21.3 (range, 8.6–148.6 Gy ⋅ cm²) or 26.4% (percentage of total DAP), 58.2 Gy ⋅ cm² ± 48.3 (range, 10.3–309.3 Gy ⋅ cm²) or 43.3%, and 40.7 Gy ⋅ cm² ± 14.5 (range, 15.9–86.3 Gy ⋅ cm²) or 30.3%, respectively. Average procedure time was 89.4 ± 27.0 minutes, and the average fluoroscopy time was 30.9 ± 12.2 minutes.ConclusionsIntraprocedural cone-beam CT in combination with 3D guidance software allows for identification and catheterization of the prostatic artery in PAE. Furthermore, the results of this trial indicate that this study protocol may lead to a low overall radiation dose.     

Contemporary Interventional Radiology Dosimetry: Analysis of 4,784 Discrete Procedures at a Single Institution

PurposeTo report dosimetry of commonly performed interventional radiology procedures and compare dose analogues to known reference levels.Materials and MethodsDemographic and dosimetry data were collected for gastrostomy, nephrostomy, peripherally inserted central catheter placement, visceral arteriography, hepatic chemoembolization, tunneled catheter placement, inferior vena cava filter placement, vascular embolization, transjugular liver biopsy, adrenal vein sampling, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation, and biliary drainage between June 12, 2014, and April 26, 2018, using integrated dosimetry software. In all, 4,784 procedures were analyzed. The study included 2,691 (56.2%) male subjects and 2,093 (43.8%) female subjects with mean age 55 ± 21 years (range: 0-104 years) and with mean weight of 76.9 ± 29.4 kg (range: 0.9-268.1 kg). Fluoroscopy time, dose area product (DAP), and reference dose were evaluated.ResultsTIPS had the highest mean fluoroscopy time (49.1 ± 16.0 min) followed by vascular embolization (25.2 ± 11.4 min), hepatic chemoembolization (18.8 ± 12.5 min), and visceral arteriography (17.7 ± 3.2 min). TIPS had the highest mean DAP (429.2 ± 244.8 grays per square centimeter [Gy·· cm²]) followed by hepatic chemoembolization (354.6 ± 78.6 Gy·· cm²), visceral arteriography (309.5 ± 39.0 Gy·· cm²), and vascular embolization (298.5 ± 29 Gy·· cm²). TIPS was associated with the highest mean reference dose (2.002 ± 1.420 Gy) followed by hepatic chemoembolization (1.746 ± 0.435 Gy), vascular embolization (1.615 ± 0.381 Gy), and visceral arteriography (1.558 ± 1.720 Gy). Of the six procedures available for comparison with the reference levels, the mean fluoroscopy time, DAP, and reference dose for each procedure were below the proposed reference levels.ConclusionAdvances in image acquisition technology and radiation safety protocols have significantly reduced the radiation exposure for a variety of interventional radiology procedures.     

Preliminary reference levels in interventional cardiology

This article describes the European DIMOND approach to defining reference levels (RLs) for radiation doses delivered to patients during two types of invasive cardiology procedures, namely coronary angiography (CA) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Representative centres of six European countries recorded patients' doses in terms of dose-area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time and number of radiographic exposures, using X-ray equipment that has been subject to constancy testing. In addition, a DAP trigger level for cardiac procedures which should alert the operator to possible skin injury, was set to 300 Gy×cm². The estimation of maximum skin dose was recommended in the event that a DAP trigger level was likely to be exceeded. The proposed RLs for CA and PTCA were for DAP 45 Gy×cm² and 75 Gy×cm², for fluoroscopy time 7.5 min and 17 min and for number of frames 1250 and 1300, respectively. The proposed RLs should be considered as a first approach to help in the optimisation of these procedures. More studies are required to establish certain "tolerances" from the proposed levels taking into account the complexity of the procedure and the patient's size.     

Radiation protection value to the operator from augmented reality smart glasses in interventional fluoroscopy procedures using phantoms

IntroductionSmart glasses can be adapted to display radiographic images to allow clinician's gaze not to be directionally fixed or predetermined by computer monitor location. This study presents an analysis of eye lens dose during interventional fluoroscopy guided procedures, comparing fixed monitor positions against the use of smart glasses.MethodsUsing a head phantom (simulating the clinician), thermoluminescent dosimeters and lead shielded glasses, the dose to the eye was measured for different head ‘rotations and tilts’ for: gaze directed towards the main scattering source (patient/primary beam) to represent potential gaze direction if smart glasses are used; gaze directed to a range of potential computer monitor positions. An anthropomorphic pelvis phantom was utilised to simulate the patient. Accumulated dose rates (μGy sˉ¹) from five 10-second exposures at 75 kV 25.2 mAs were recorded.ResultsAn average DAP reading of 758.84 cGy cm² was measured during each 10 second exposure. Whilst wearing lead shielded glasses a 6.10 – fold reduction in dose rate to the lens is possible (p < 0.05). Influence of the direction of gaze by the clinician demonstrated a wide range of dose rate reduction from 3.13% (p = 0.16) to 143.69% (p < 0.05) when the clinician's gaze was towards the main scattering source. Increased dose rate to the clinician's eyes was received despite wearing lead shielded glasses, as the angle of gaze moved 45° and 90° from 0°.ConclusionIf the clinician's gaze is directed towards the main scattering source a potential exists for reducing eye lens dose compared with fixed location computer monitors. Introduction of lead lined smart glasses into interventional radiology may lead to improvements in patient care, reducing the need for the clinician to look away from the patient to observe a radiographic image.     

Radiation dose in neuroangiography using image noise reduction technology: a population study based on 614 patients

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to quantify the reduction in patient radiation dose by X-ray imaging technology using image noise reduction and system settings for neuroangiography and to assess its impact on the working habits of the physician.

Methods

Radiation dose data from 190 neuroangiographies and 112 interventional neuroprocedures performed with state-of-the-art image processing and reference system settings were collected for the period January–June 2010. The system was then configured with extra image noise reduction algorithms and system settings, which enabled radiation dose reduction without loss of image quality. Radiation dose data from 174 neuroangiographies and 138 interventional neuroprocedures were collected for the period January–June 2012. Procedures were classified as diagnostic or interventional. Patient radiation exposure was quantified using cumulative dose area product and cumulative air kerma. Impact on working habits of the physician was quantified using fluoroscopy time and number of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images.

Results

The optimized system settings provided significant reduction in dose indicators versus reference system settings (p<0.001): from 124 to 47 Gy cm² and from 0.78 to 0.27 Gy for neuroangiography, and from 328 to 109 Gy cm² and from 2.71 to 0.89 Gy for interventional neuroradiology. Differences were not significant between the two systems with regard to fluoroscopy time or number of DSA images.

Conclusion

X-ray imaging technology using an image noise reduction algorithm and system settings provided approximately 60% radiation dose reduction in neuroangiography and interventional neuroradiology, without affecting the working habits of the physician.     

Radiation exposure in stent-grafting of abdominal aortic aneurysms

In recent years, endovascular stent-grafting of abdominal aortic aneurysms has become more and more common. The radiation dose associated with these procedures is not well documented however. The aim of the present study was to estimate the radiation exposure and to simulate the effects of a switch from C-arm radiographic equipment to a dedicated angiographic suite. Dose-area product (DAP) was recorded for 24 aortic stent-grafting procedures. Based on these data, entrance surface dose (ESD) and effective dose were calculated. A simulation of doses at various settings was also performed using a humanoid Alderson phantom. The image quality was evaluated with a CDRAD contrast-detail phantom. The mean DAP was 72.3 Gy cm(2) at 28 min fluoroscopy time with a mean ESD of 0.39 Gy and a mean effective dose of 10.5 mSv. If the procedures had been performed in an angiographic suite, all dose values would be much higher with a mean ESD of 2.9 Gy with 16 patients exceeding 2 Gy, which is considered to be a threshold for possible skin injury. The image quality for fluoroscopy was superior for the C-arm whilst the angiographic unit gave better acquisition images. Using a C-arm unit resulted in doses similar to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). If the same patients had been treated using dedicated angiographic equipment, the risk of skin injury would be much higher. It is thus important to be aware of the dose output of the equipment that is used.