Patient dosimetry approaches in interventional cardiology and literature dose data review

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiology
• Radiation Protection

Background:

• Interventional radiology (IR) procedures are a significant source of collective radiation dose to the population.
• High radiation doses in IR are often associated with complex or repeated procedures requiring prolonged fluoroscopy and high image quality.
• Increasingly, dosimetric evaluations are becoming essential in IR to manage radiation exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and categorize patient dosimetry methods used in interventional radiology.
• To highlight the importance of dosimetric evaluations for risk assessment and radiation protection in IR.
• To describe dosimetric practices and data specific to interventional cardiology.

Main Methods:

• Categorization of patient dosimetry methods based on their purpose: stochastic risk evaluation, quality assurance, and prevention of deterministic effects.
• Review of dosimetric methods employed in interventional cardiology.
• Compilation of relevant published dosimetric data from interventional cardiology practices.

Main Results:

• Patient dosimetry in IR can be broadly classified into three main categories based on objective.
• Specific dosimetric methods and data are available for interventional cardiology, a common IR subspecialty.
• The findings underscore the need for standardized and accurate dosimetry in IR.

Conclusions:

• Dosimetric evaluations are critical for managing radiation exposure in interventional radiology.
• Understanding and applying appropriate dosimetry methods are essential for patient safety and radiation protection.
• Further research and data collection in interventional cardiology dosimetry will aid in optimizing patient care and safety.