Validation of a dose tracking software for skin dose map calculation in interventional radiology

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiological Sciences
• Radiation Dosimetry

Background:

• Accurate skin dose monitoring is crucial in interventional radiology (IR) to prevent deterministic radiation effects.
• Existing methods for dose estimation can be complex and time-consuming.
• The NEXO[DOSE]® system aims to provide a streamlined solution for dose assessment in IR.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the accuracy of the NEXO[DOSE]® skin dose software for interventional radiology (IR) procedures.
• To assess the software's ability to provide skin dose distribution and Peak Skin Dose (PSD) estimates.
• To compare software calculations with film-based measurements across different angiographic systems.

Main Methods:

• The NEXO[DOSE]® software utilizes radiation dose structured report data and system-specific parameters.
• GafChromic® XR-RV3 films were used as a measurement tool under a PMMA phantom.
• Calculated doses and spatial distributions were compared against film measurements using Philips and Siemens systems.

Main Results:

• Peak Skin Dose (PSD) calculations showed an average agreement of 7% ± 5% with film measurements.
• Discrepancies up to 33% were observed in low-dose regions due to unmodeled scatter.
• Geometric accuracy of dose distribution was within 3-5 mm, demonstrating good spatial agreement.

Conclusions:

• NEXO[DOSE]® software provides a reliable estimation of skin dose distribution and Peak Skin Dose (PSD).
• The software's accuracy supports its use for enhanced patient follow-up in IR.
• Validation across multiple systems indicates consistent performance for dose monitoring.