Backscatter from radiation protective drapes in fluoroscopically guided interventions - a patient dose to consider?

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiological Protection
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Radiation protective drapes are used in fluoroscopically guided procedures to shield medical personnel from scattered radiation.
• Concerns exist regarding potential increases in patient radiation dose due to backscattered radiation from these drapes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the backscattered radiation dose to patients from protective drapes.
• To assess the clinical significance of this backscattered radiation in fluoroscopically guided procedures.

Main Methods:

• Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were used to measure backscattered radiation from three different protective drapes.
• Measurements were taken on top of and at various depths within a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom.
• Monte Carlo simulations were employed to theoretically quantify backscattered radiation from lead materials.

Main Results:

• Backscattered radiation varied depending on the drape material.
• The measured backscattered radiation was less than 0.001 times the primary radiation beam dose.
• This included backscatter from the PMMA phantom itself.

Conclusions:

• The increase in patient radiation dose from protective drapes is minor and generally insignificant.
• The use of radiation protective drapes is acceptable if justified by occupational radiation protection benefits.
• Clinical decisions regarding drape use should weigh personnel safety against minimal patient dose increases.