Eye lens dose in interventional cardiology personnel in Vietnam: direct Hp(3) measurement, indirect method...

Personal dose equivalents Hp(3) in interventional cardiology personnel are of growing regulatory concern following International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 118, which revised the occupational eye lens dose limit to 20 mSv/year. This prospective cohort study presents the first peer-reviewed direct Hp(3) dosimetry data from Vietnamese catheterization laboratory workers. Twelve personnel (eight physicians, four technicians) were monitored over 10 weeks (202 procedures, Siemens Artis Zee system), with doses extrapolated to 12 weeks. Direct Hp(3) ranged from 0.58-4.59 mSv (physicians) and 0.26-1.01 mSv (technicians); annualized projections reached 19.10 mSv/year, approaching the ICRP limit. Five physicians exceeded the 6 mSv/year International Radiation Protection Association investigation level. Indirect dosimetry (Swiss Society of Radiobiology and Medical Physics-SSRPM two-dosemeter algorithm) overestimated direct measurements by mean factors of 1.31 (physicians) and 1.68 (technicians). A strong dose-fluoroscopy time correlation was identified for physicians (R2 = 0.918). Direct Hp(3) monitoring and lead-equivalent eye protection are recommended.