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Occupational doses to the eye lens in pediatric and adult noncardiac interventional radiology procedures
Author(s) -
Morcillo Ana Belén,
Alejo Luis,
Huerga Carlos,
Bayón José,
Marín Alberto,
Corredoira Eva,
Novo Joan Ricardo,
Hernández Teresa,
Ponce María Dolores,
Garzón Gonzalo,
Vañó Eliseo,
Guibelalde Eduardo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1002/mp.14753
Subject(s) - dosimeter , medicine , eye lens , kerma , nuclear medicine , pediatric radiology , equivalent dose , effective dose (radiation) , dosimetry , lead apron , interventional radiology , radiology , radiation protection , lens (geology) , petroleum engineering , engineering
Purpose To assess occupational lens exposure in a mixed interventional radiology department, comparing pediatric and adult procedures. To analyze the correlation between the lens dose and the doses measured at the chest and collar level and the kerma‐area product (P KA ). Methods For 17 months, three radiologists performing both pediatric and adult interventions were monitored by means of 14 dosimeters per worker: 12 single‐point optically stimulated luminescent (OSL) dosimeters calibrated in terms of H p (0.07) were placed on the inside and outside of two pairs of lead glasses, one for pediatric procedures and one for adult interventions; another whole‐body OSL dosimeter calibrated in terms of H p (10) was placed over the thyroid shield; finally, an additional active solid‐state dosimeter, also calibrated for H p (10) , was worn on the chest, over the apron. Furthermore, a database was created to register the demographic and dosimetric data of the procedures, as well as the name of the radiologist acting as first operator. Results For the three radiologists, who performed 276–338 procedures/year (20% pediatric), cumulative annual doses to the left bare eye exceeded 20 mSv (21–61 mSv). Considering the glasses’ protection, annual doses exceeded 6 mSv (13–48 mSv) for both eyes. No important differences were observed in lens dose per procedure between pediatric and adult interventions (0.16 vs 0.18, 0.12 vs 0.09, and 0.07 vs 0.07 mSv), although lens dose per P KA was 4.1–4.5 times higher in pediatrics (5.8 vs 1.3, 3.3 vs 0.8, and 2.6 vs 0.6 µSv/Gy·cm 2 ) despite a similar use of the ceiling‐suspended screen. Lens doses were highly correlated with collar readings (with Pearson coefficients [r] ranging from 0.86 to 0.98) and with chest readings (with r ranging from 0.75 to 0.93). However, slopes of the linear regressions varied greatly among radiologists. Conclusions There is real risk of exceeding the occupational dose limit to the eye lens in mixed interventional radiology rooms if radiation protection tools are not used properly. Regular monitoring of the lens dose is recommended, given lens exposure might easily exceed 6 mSv/yr. Using a collar dosimeter for this purpose might be suitable if it is preceded by an individualized regression analysis. The same radiation protection measures should be applied to interventional radiologists regardless of whether they are treating pediatric or adult patients.