Inspection of lead aprons: criteria for rejection

Lead aprons utilized by personnel performing fluoroscopy are routinely inspected for damage to comply with the requirements of hospital accrediting organizations. Fluoroscopic or radiographic examination of lead aprons may reveal imperfections ranging from small pinholes to large tears. Currently, there are no standards establishing a criteria for acceptance or rejection of lead aprons. As a consequence, many facilities have established arbitrary rejection criteria. Often lead aprons are discarded due to small imperfections, a practice that can become costly to these institutions. We have calculated increases in doses to the whole body for varying sizes of holes, including special consideration of the effects on effective dose equivalent when the hole is over the testes and thyroid. ALARA standards for cost per personsievert averted are used to establish a rational basis for criteria of acceptance or rejection of lead aprons.