Staff doses in interventional radiology: a national survey

To present the results of occupational radiation doses investigated through a national survey promoted by the National Society of Interventional Radiology in Spain.

The monthly dosimetric records of 28 interventional radiologists from 10 hospitals were analyzed and filtered to remove inconsistent dosimeter readings. The evaluation of the results includes different workloads as well as different radiation protection habits.

Poor use of personal dosimetry by some interventional radiologists was brought to light. Most professionals do not use an over-apron dosimeter as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Ceiling-suspended protective screens are used irregularly in many cases. All interventionalists perform digital subtraction angiographic imaging from a control room in more than 80% of procedures. The maximum monthly doses recorded were 3.8 mSv under the apron, 20.2 mSv over the apron, and 63.1 mSv to the hands.

For under-apron and hand readings, extrapolated median values were below 30% of annual dose limits, but in the case of over-apron readings, the extrapolated median dose was higher than the newly recommended limit for the eye lens of 20 mSv per year. This study mainly highlights the need to use radiation protection tools and personal dosimeters to protect staff and monitor eye lens doses.