[Radiation dose of the radiologist and the assistant in transarterial hepatic chemoembolization--comparison with the...

To determine the values of effective dose and partial body dose for the radiologist and the assistant during transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) und to compare the doses with the dose limits.

In 65 TACE of HCC cases, values of various surface doses for the radiologist and the assistant were measured. The measurements were performed with the help of thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLD) that were attached to the eyebrows, over the lobes of the thyroid gland, to the breasts, abdomen and symphysis, and to the hands and the lower legs. The measured surface dose values were used as indicators of the exposure of the organs and tissues located near the surface, i. e. eye lens, thyroid gland, breast, testes and tibia. They were also seen as conservative estimations of tissues deep inside the body and the extremities.

The highest surface dose for the radiologist was measured at the lower leg (0.58 +/- 0.28 mSv) and the highest surface dose for the assistant was measured at the right lower leg (0.24 +/- 0.20 mSv) since it was closer to the tube than the left side, followed by the dose values at the also unprotected areas of the eyebrows, lobes of the thyroid gland and the hands. The estimated value of the effective dose was 0.06 +/- 0.03 mSv for the radiologist and 0.04 +/- 0.01 mSv for the assistant. With regard to the relationship between the dose limits according to the German X-ray regulation and the measured values and with regard to the maximum possible number of interventions per year, the partial body dose of the red bone marrow in the lower leg provided the greatest limitation, followed by the partial body dose of the muscle in the lower leg and the effective dose.

In order to meet the dose limits, especially the lower leg should be protected, and the effective dose should also be reduced.