Patient and staff dosimetry problems in interventional radiology

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Physics
• Radiation Protection

Background:

• Interventional radiology integrates diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, leading to significant advancements in patient care.
• Procedures in interventional radiology are associated with elevated radiation doses for both patients and healthcare professionals due to prolonged fluoroscopy and numerous radiographs.
• Accurate measurement and assessment of patient and staff radiation doses are crucial but complicated by numerous influencing factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review existing literature on dosimetry approaches in interventional radiology.
• To delineate and compare various proposed dosimetry protocols for radiation exposure assessment.
• To identify and discuss practical challenges encountered in evaluating and comparing dosimetry results.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of dosimetry protocols and methodologies in interventional radiology.
• Analysis of factors influencing radiation dose estimations in interventional procedures.
• Identification of practical issues in the application and comparison of dosimetry data.

Main Results:

• Multiple dosimetry approaches exist, varying in complexity and accuracy.
• Standardization of dosimetry protocols is lacking, leading to difficulties in comparing results across studies.
• Practical challenges include variability in equipment, patient anatomy, and procedural techniques.

Conclusions:

• Effective radiation dose management in interventional radiology requires standardized dosimetry protocols.
• Addressing practical challenges in dose assessment is essential for accurate risk evaluation and effective radiation protection measures.
• Further research is needed to develop harmonized and practical dosimetry solutions for interventional radiology.