[Radiation exposure and radiation risk in angiocardiography in adults]

In 100 patients, the X-ray exposure during routine angiocardiography was measured from which calculations were performed for the integral dose (the energy transferred to the body by the exposure), the mean body dose and the radiation risk (according to ICRP 26, 1977). Fluoroscopy contributed 21% and angiocardiography 79% of the total exposure. The mean body dose was 0.9 rd. The average of the area-dose product was 10,200 Rcm2 with a skin exposure in the central beam of 36.1 rd. The genetic risk (probability of X-ray-induced mutation in progeny) is 1 : 75,000 after average exposures and 1 : 7,700 at maximal doses. The somatic risk (probability of X-ray-induced lethal disease) in the patients studied is 1 : 11,000 after average exposures and approximately 1 : 4,400 at maximal doses. The genetic and somatic risks, thus, are small as compared with those of cardiac catheterization and contrast angiocardiography.