scholarly journals The importance of protection glasses during neuroangiographies: A study on radiation exposure at the lens of the primary operator

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 368-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
JB Tavares ◽  
E Sacadura-Leite ◽  
T Matoso ◽  
LL Neto ◽  
L Biscoito ◽  
...  

Background In interventional neuroradiology, few operators routinely use radiation protection glasses. Moreover, in most centers, radiation dose data only accounts for whole body dose without specific information on lens dose. In 2012, the International Commission on Radiological Protection advised that the threshold limit value for the lens should be 20 mSv/year instead of the previous 150 mSv/year limit. The purpose of this study was to compare the radiation dose in the operator’s lens during real diagnostic and interventional neuroangiographies, either using or without lead protection glasses. Methods Using the Educational Direct Dosimeter (EDD30 dosimeter), accumulated radiation dose in the lens was measured in 13 neuroangiographies: seven diagnostic and six interventional. Operators with and without radiation protection glasses were included and the sensor was placed near their left eye, closest to the radiation beam. Results Without glasses, the corrected mean dose of radiation in the lens was 8.02 µSv for diagnostic procedures and 168.57 µSv for interventional procedures. Using glasses, these values were reduced to 1.74 µSv and 33.24 µSv, respectively. Conclusion Considering 20 mSv as the suggested annual limit of equivalent dose in the lens, neuroradiologists may perform up to 2,494 diagnostic procedures per year without protecting glasses, a number that increases to 11,494 when glasses are used consistently. Regarding intervention, a maximum of 119 procedures per year is advised if glasses are not used, whereas up to 602 procedures/year may be performed using this protection. Therefore, neuroradiologists should always wear radiation protection glasses.

2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
H-G. Menzel ◽  
J. Harrison

Modern radiation protection is based on the principles of justification, limitation, and optimisation. Assessment of radiation risks for individuals or groups of individuals is, however, not a primary objective of radiological protection. The implementation of the principles of limitation and optimisation requires an appropriate quantification of radiation exposure. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has introduced effective dose as the principal radiological protection quantity to be used for setting and controlling dose limits for stochastic effects in the regulatory context, and for the practical implementation of the optimisation principle. Effective dose is the tissue weighted sum of radiation weighted organ and tissue doses of a reference person from exposure to external irradiations and internal emitters. The specific normalised values of tissue weighting factors are defined by ICRP for individual tissues, and used as an approximate age- and sex-averaged representation of the relative contribution of each tissue to the radiation detriment of stochastic effects from whole-body low-linear energy transfer irradiations. The rounded values of tissue and radiation weighting factors are chosen by ICRP on the basis of available scientific data from radiation epidemiology and radiation biology, and they are therefore subject to adjustment as new scientific information becomes available. Effective dose is a single, risk-related dosimetric quantity, used prospectively for planning and optimisation purposes, and retrospectively for demonstrating compliance with dose limits and constraints. In practical radiation protection, it has proven to be extremely useful.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 4448
Author(s):  
Minoru Osanai ◽  
Hidenori Sato ◽  
Kana Sato ◽  
Kohsei Kudo ◽  
Masahiro Hosoda ◽  
...  

Radiation dose management of medical staff has become increasingly important. Particularly, based on the statement by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in 2011, a new lower equivalent dose limit for the eye lens is being established in each country. Although many reports have discussed the occupational radiation dose in interventional radiology (IR), few studies have examined the dose during computed tomography (CT) examinations. This study investigated the radiation dose exposure to medical staff present in the CT room during irradiation, with particular focus on the exposure to eye lens. The radiation dose exposure to those who assist patients during head, chest and upper abdomen CT examination was measured in a phantom study. The radiation dose exposure with scattered radiation was never negligible (i.e., high); Hp(3) was the highest in head CT examination, at 0.44 mSv per examination. Furthermore, the shielding effect of radiation protection glasses was large, and radiation protection glasses are useful tools for the medical staff who are involved in CT examinations. The justification and optimisation should be carefully considered in assistant actions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 93 (1112) ◽  
pp. 20200018
Author(s):  
James A Crowhurst ◽  
Mark Whitby ◽  
Nicholas Aroney ◽  
Rustem Dautov ◽  
Darren Walters ◽  
...  

Objectives: Radiation from cardiac angiography procedures is harmful to patients and the staff performing them. This study sought to investigate operator radiation dose for a range of procedures and different operators in order to investigate trends and optimise dose. Methods: Real-time dosemeters (RTDs) were worn by operators for angiography procedures for 3 years. Dose–area product (DAP) and RTD were collected. RTD was normalised to DAP (RTD/DAP) to compare radiation dose and radiation protection measures. Comparisons were made across procedure categories and individual operators. Results: In 7626 procedures, median and 75th percentile levels were established for operator dose for 8 procedure categories. There was a significant difference in all operator dose measures and DAP across procedure categories (p<0.001). DAP, RTD, and RTD/DAP were significantly different across 22 individual operators (p<0.001). Conclusion: DAP was significantly different across procedure categories and a higher RTD was seen with higher DAP. RTD/DAP can demonstrate radiation protection effectiveness and identified differences between procedures and individual operators with this measure. Procedures and individuals were identified where further optimisation of radiation protection measures may be beneficial. A reference level for operator dose can be created and audited against on a regular basis. Advances in knowledge: This study demonstrates that operator dose can be easily and routinely measured on a case by case basis to investigate dose trends for different procedures. Normalising the operator dose to DAP demonstrates radiation protection effectiveness for the individual operator which can then be optimised as part of an ongoing audit program.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Hasford ◽  
T.A. Sackey ◽  
S. Inkoom ◽  
E.K. Sosu ◽  
E.N.B. Hammond ◽  
...  

The evaluation of medical practitioners’ knowledge levels of radiation and safety is essential for planning diagnostic procedures and treatment in radiation medicine. This study sought to identify levels of knowledge and the predictor variables influencing knowledge of medical practitioners on applications of radiation in medicine in Ghana. Online survey was conducted with Google Form consisting of 37-point questionnaire highlighting on physicians’ background information, professional experience, knowledge on radiation usage in medicine, radiation protection and safety. Evaluation of the data was performed by descriptive analysis using frequency distributions and percentages. Among 152 respondents who participated in the study, specialists and consultants made up a higher representation of 46.7%. Two-thirds (64.0%) of the respondents who had received refresher training in the application of radiation in medicine exhibited full knowledge in the field. Medical practitioners who had practiced between 21–25 years were also found to demonstrate full knowledge of the application of radiation in medicine, while 36.6% of those who had practiced for < 6 years demonstrated extensive knowledge. Majority of the medical practitioners, constituting 39.5%, exhibited full knowledge in medical radiation protection and safety. This level of knowledge was found higher than what was demonstrated for general and occupational radiation protection. With medical imaging forming a key component in the diagnosis of several medical conditions, education in the field of radiation usage and radiological protection and safety should be a subject of periodic training for medical practitioners regardless of their level of training or duration of practice


2002 ◽  
Vol 41 (06) ◽  
pp. 245-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Knietsch ◽  
T. Spillmann ◽  
E.-G. Grünbaum ◽  
R. Bauer ◽  
M. Puille

SummaryAim: Establishment of radioiodine treatment of feline hyperthyroidism in veterinary routine in accordance with German radiation protection regulations. Patients and methods: 35 cats with proven hyperthyroidism were treated with 131I in a special ward. Thyroid uptake and effective halflife were determined using gammacamera dosimetry. Patients were released when measured whole body activity was below the limit defined in the German “Strahlenschutzverordnung”. Results: 17/20 cats treated with 150 MBq radioiodine and 15/15 cats treated with 250 MBq had normal thyroid function after therapy, normal values for FT3 and FT4 were reached after two and normal TSH levels after three weeks. In 14 cats normal thyroid function was confirmed by controls 3-6 months later. Thyroidal iodine uptake was 24 ± 10%, effective halflife 2.5 ± 0.7 days. Whole body activity <1 MBq was reached 13 ± 4 days after application of 131I. Radiation exposure of cat owners was estimated as 1.97 Sv/MBq for adults. Conclusion: Radioiodine therapy of feline hyper-thyroidism is highly effective and safe. It can easily be performed in accordance with German radiation protection regulations, although this requires hospitalisation for approximately two weeks. Practical considerations on radiation exposure of cat owners do not justify this long interval. Regulations for the veterinary use of radioactive substances similar to existing regulations for medical use in humans are higly desirable.


1987 ◽  
Vol 26 (06) ◽  
pp. 258-262
Author(s):  
J. Happi ◽  
R. P. Baum ◽  
J. Frohn ◽  
B. Weimer ◽  
A. Halbsguth ◽  
...  

The present study was done in order to examine if the use of111ln-DTPA- labeled MAb fragments in place of 131l-labeled MAb fragments increases the sensitivity of tomographic immunoscintigraphy to reach the level of that of planar imaging techniques. In 11 patients with various primary tumors, local recurrences or metastases [colorectal carcinoma (n = 7), ovarian carcinoma (n = 2), papillary thyroid carcinoma (n = 1), undifferentiated carcinoma of the lung (n = 1)], immunoscintigraphy (IS) was carried out using 111ln-DTPA- labeled F(ab’)2 fragments of various MAbs (anti-CEA, OC 125, anti-hTG) and planar and tomographic imaging were compared intraindividually. By conventional diagnostic procedures, the presence of a tumor mass was confirmed (transmission computer tomography, ultrasound) or verified (131l whole-body scintigraphy, histology) in all cases. Immunoscintigraphy was positive in 9 out of 11 cases by ECT and in 10 out of 11 cases by planar imaging. When using 111 In-labeled MAb fragments, intraindividual comparison of ECT and planar imaging resulted in a similar sensitivity. The increased sensitivity of ECT using this tracer in contrast to 131l-labeled MAb fragments may be attributed to the fact that the physical properties of111 In are much more suitable for the gamma cameras most commonly used (single detector, 3/8” crystal); using 111 In-labeled MAb fragments, count rates sufficient for ECT can be obtained within a reasonable acquisition time. This allows to combine IS with the advantages of ECT regarding tumour localization and prevention of artefacts due to superposition of background.


2021 ◽  
Vol 193 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-54
Author(s):  
Yasuda Mitsuyoshi ◽  
Funada Tomoya ◽  
Sato Hisaya ◽  
Kato Kyoichi

Abstract As chest x rays involve risks of patients falling, radiologic technologists (technologists) commonly assist patients, and as the assistance takes place near the patients, the eye lenses of the technologists are exposed to radiation. The recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection suggest that the risk of developing cataracts due to lens exposure is high, and this makes it necessary to reduce and minimize the exposure. The present study investigated the positions of technologists assisting patients that will minimize exposure of the eye lens to radiation. The results showed that it is possible to reduce the exposure by assisting from the following positions: 50% at the sides rather than diagonally behind, 10% at the right side of the patient rather than the left and 40% at 250 mm away from the patient. The maximum reduction with radiation protection glasses was 54% with 0.07 mmPb and 72% with 0.88 mmPb.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 118
Author(s):  
Andreas S. Brendlin ◽  
Moritz T. Winkelmann ◽  
Phuong Linh Do ◽  
Vincent Schwarze ◽  
Felix Peisen ◽  
...  

To evaluate the effect of radiation dose reduction on image quality and diagnostic confidence in contrast-enhanced whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) staging. We randomly selected March 2016 for retrospective inclusion of 18 consecutive patients (14 female, 60 ± 15 years) with clinically indicated WBCT staging on the same 3rd generation dual-source CT. Using low-dose simulations, we created data sets with 100, 80, 60, 40, and 20% of the original radiation dose. Each set was reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP) and Advanced Modeled Iterative Reconstruction (ADMIRE®, Siemens Healthineers, Forchheim, Germany) strength 1–5, resulting in 540 datasets total. ADMIRE 2 was the reference standard for intraindividual comparison. The effective radiation dose was calculated using commercially available software. For comparison of objective image quality, noise assessments of subcutaneous adipose tissue regions were performed automatically using the software. Three radiologists blinded to the study evaluated image quality and diagnostic confidence independently on an equidistant 5-point Likert scale (1 = poor to 5 = excellent). At 100%, the effective radiation dose in our population was 13.3 ± 9.1 mSv. At 20% radiation dose, it was possible to obtain comparably low noise levels when using ADMIRE 5 (p = 1.000, r = 0.29). We identified ADMIRE 3 at 40% radiation dose (5.3 ± 3.6 mSv) as the lowest achievable radiation dose with image quality and diagnostic confidence equal to our reference standard (p = 1.000, r > 0.4). The inter-rater agreement for this result was almost perfect (ICC ≥ 0.958, 95% CI 0.909–0.983). On a 3rd generation scanner, it is feasible to maintain good subjective image quality, diagnostic confidence, and image noise in single-energy WBCT staging at dose levels as low as 40% of the original dose (5.3 ± 3.6 mSv), when using ADMIRE 3.


2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 2452-2460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven G. DuBois ◽  
Julia Messina ◽  
John M. Maris ◽  
John Huberty ◽  
David V. Glidden ◽  
...  

Purpose Iodine-131–metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) has been shown to be active against refractory neuroblastoma. The primary toxicity of 131I-MIBG is myelosuppression, which might necessitate autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (AHSCT). The goal of this study was to determine risk factors for myelosuppression and the need for AHSCT after 131I-MIBG treatment. Patients and Methods Fifty-three patients with refractory or relapsed neuroblastoma were treated with 18 mCi/kg 131I-MIBG on a phase I/II protocol. The median whole-body radiation dose was 2.92 Gy. Results Almost all patients required at least one platelet (96%) or red cell (91%) transfusion and most patients (79%) developed neutropenia (< 0.5 × 103/μL). Patients reached platelet nadir earlier than neutrophil nadir (P < .0001). Earlier platelet nadir correlated with bone marrow tumor, more extensive bone involvement, higher whole-body radiation dose, and longer time from diagnosis to 131I-MIBG therapy (P ≤ .04). In patients who did not require AHSCT, bone marrow disease predicted longer periods of neutropenia and platelet transfusion dependence (P ≤ .03). Nineteen patients (36%) received AHSCT for prolonged myelosuppression. Of patients who received AHSCT, 100% recovered neutrophils, 73% recovered red cells, and 60% recovered platelets. Failure to recover red cells or platelets correlated with higher whole-body radiation dose (P ≤ .04). Conclusion These results demonstrate the substantial hematotoxicity associated with high-dose 131I-MIBG therapy, with severe thrombocytopenia an early and nearly universal finding. Bone marrow tumor at time of treatment was the most useful predictor of hematotoxicity, whereas whole-body radiation dose was the most useful predictor of failure to recover platelets after AHSCT.


2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (spe) ◽  
pp. 115-118
Author(s):  
Nicole Colas-Linhart

In nuclear medicine, radiation absorbed dose estimates calculated by standard models at the whole body or organ are very low. At cellular level, however, the heterogeneity of radionuclide distributions of radiation dose patterns may be significant. We present here absorbed doses at cellular level and evaluate their possible impact on the usually assumed risk/benefit relationships in nuclear medicine studies. The absorbed dose values calculated are surprisingly high, and are difficult to interpret. In the present study, we show calculated doses at the cellular level and discuss possible biological consequences, for two radiopharmaceuticals labelled with technetium-99m: human serum albumin microspheres used for pulmonary scintigrapies and HMPAO used to labelled leukocytes.


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