Radiation Exposure of Patients and Interventional Radiologists during Prostatic Artery Embolization: A Prospective...

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology

Background:

• Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is an increasingly common treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
• Radiation exposure is an inherent risk in fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures.
• Quantifying radiation doses is crucial for patient safety and occupational health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate patient and interventional radiologist radiation exposure during PAE.
• To identify the primary sources of radiation dose during these procedures.

Main Methods:

• Prospective monitoring of 25 PAE procedures using an Artis zee system.
• Measurement of radiation dose-area product (DAP) and peak skin dose (PSD) using system data and radiochromic film.
• Placement of dosimeters on the interventional radiologist to assess occupational dose.

Main Results:

• Average fluoroscopy time was 30.9 minutes with a mean DAP of 450.7 Gy·cm².
• Digital subtraction angiography contributed the most to the total DAP (71.5%).
• Mean PSD was 2,420.3 mGy, and the average effective dose to the interventional radiologist was 17 μSv.

Conclusions:

• PAE procedures are associated with substantial patient radiation doses.
• Interventional radiologists performing PAE receive measurable occupational radiation exposure.
• Optimized radiation protection measures are essential during PAE.