Patient dose during interventional neuroradiology procedures: Results from a multi-center study

Purpose

The purpose of this multicenter study was to determine the doses received by patients during interventional neuroradiology procedures and to consider establishing reference standards.

Materials and methods

A retrospective study of nine interventional neuroradiology departments was conducted. Seven diagnostic (cerebral and spinal angiography) and therapeutic (embolization and vertebroplasty) procedures were reviewed. For each procedure, three dosimetric parameters were recorded: dose-area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time, and number of images.

Results

Results showed interdepartment variations, up to four-fold for diagnostic procedures and seven-fold for therapeutic procedures. However, applying the 75th percentile method to the entire dataset, reference standards can be proposed for six types of procedures including diagnostic cerebral angiography (230 Gy cm²), follow-up selective cerebral angiography (80 Gy cm²), aneurysm embolization (350 Gy cm²), AVM embolization (440 Gy cm²). Reference standards are also proposed with regards to fluoroscopy time and number of images.

Conclusion

Such standards are useful for clinicians to evaluate and improve their practices.