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Radiation safety of personnel during catheter-based Ir-192 coronary brachytherapy
S K Jani1, S Steuterman, G B Huppe
1Director of Medical Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology, MSB1, Scripps Clinic, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA. sjani@scripps.edu
Abstract:
Catheter-based brachytherapy using Ir-192 seed sources has shown significant reduction in the rate of restenosis among patients with coronary in-stent restenosis. High-energy gamma rays from Ir-192 raise some radiation safety issues of personnel. The aim of this study was to fully analyze the radiation safety issues associated with Ir-192 brachytherapy in the cardiac cath lab environment. Measurements were made to assess the penetrating ability of Ir-192 gamma rays through tissues, concrete and lead. Radiation exposure levels were measured around a large number of patients undergoing Ir-192 brachytherapy. Personnel were carefully monitored for any additional dose received from brachytherapy for the last five years covering > 500 cases. Our results showed that with a proper radiation safety program in place, the dose to cath lab staff was negligible. It was concluded that radiation safety of personnel was easy to maintain during catheter-based coronary brachytherapy using Ir-192 seed sources.
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