DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVELS BASED ON PATIENT BODY MASS INDEX FOR SELECT INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES IN MINAS...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Radiation Protection

Background:

• Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) are crucial for optimizing radiation dose in medical imaging.
• Existing DRLs often do not account for patient-specific factors like Body Mass Index (BMI).
• Interventional radiology procedures involve significant radiation exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish local DRLs for interventional radiology procedures in Minas Gerais.
• To investigate the feasibility of using patient BMI to refine DRLs.
• To optimize radiation dose monitoring in adult patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and angioplasty.

Main Methods:

• Data from 3015 procedures (Catheterism, PTCA, CAT/PTCA) across 23 institutions were collected.
• Patient data were categorized into 6 Body Mass Index (BMI) ranges (under 18 to 40 kg·m⁻²).
• Kerma-Area Product (KAP) was measured and analyzed, with the 75th percentile used as the DRL.

Main Results:

• 18 initial DRL values were established for the region.
• Overall 75th percentile KAP values were 94.6 Gy·cm² (CAT), 88.6 Gy·cm² (PTCA), and 33.0 Gy·cm² (CAT/PTCA).
• KAP-BMI ranges showed significant variation, indicating potential for dose optimization.

Conclusions:

• The KAP-BMI approach is a feasible method for optimizing DRLs in interventional radiology.
• Establishing BMI-adjusted DRLs can lead to more personalized and effective radiation dose management.
• These findings provide a foundation for improved radiation safety practices in the studied region.