Asymmetric breast dose in coronary angiography

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiology
• Cardiovascular Imaging

Background:

• Coronary angiography involves significant radiation exposure.
• Radiation dose distribution to organs is crucial for patient safety.
• Asymmetric breast dose in cardiac procedures is not well-characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate and quantify asymmetric radiation dose distribution to the breasts during coronary angiography.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of Gafchromic XR-QA2 film for measuring breast dose.
• To compare dose distribution under controlled versus simulated procedural conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Gafchromic XR-QA2 film as an area dosimeter in an anthropomorphic phantom.
• Conducted controlled experiments with varying X-ray tube angulations.
• Simulated a mock coronary angiography procedure to assess real-world dose patterns.
• Measured radiation dose at various tissue depths within the breasts.

Main Results:

• Gafchromic film successfully confirmed asymmetric radiation dose distribution to the breasts.
• The right breast received a higher dose in most controlled experimental angulations.
• During the mock procedure, the left breast received the highest radiation dose.
• Normalized left breast dose was 0.16 mGy/Gy.cm², and right breast dose was 0.08 mGy/Gy.cm².

Conclusions:

• Coronary angiography results in asymmetric breast radiation doses, which are not typically predicted by standard simulations.
• Gafchromic film is a viable tool for measuring and visualizing these dose asymmetries.
• Accurate individual breast dosimetry is essential for understanding and mitigating radiation risks in cardiac imaging.