[Radiation burden in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)]

The increasing expansion of diagnostic and, in particular, of therapeutic ERCP calls for greater consideration of the radiation dose to which the investigator and assistant personal are exposed and emphasizes the question of additional radiation protection measures such as leadshielded glasses and thyroid protection.

Local radiation doses were measured in 19 ERCP sessions at head level of the endoscopist, assistant staff and the radiologist, respectively. The fluoroscopic time, the area dose product (ADP) and the measuring height were recorded. A quotient based on the measured local dose and the ADP was formed which includes all variables having an effect on the scattered radiation. Using this quotient and the known ADP-values radiation exposure levels were mapped over a period of three months and then extrapolated to obtain the annual dose.

Not only the FT, but also the ADP, the measuring height, and the source-image-distance (SID) are found to influence the magnitude of the radiation dose to which the investigator and his assistants are exposed at head level. For an assumed rate of 1200 ERCPs per year a median radiation at head level of 16.5 mSv/a is calculated for the investigator, and a corresponding head-level dose of 5.5 mSv/a for the assistants. This shows that the eye dose to which the investigator (and his assistants) are exposed amounts to 10% (5%) and the thyroid dose to 5% (1.5%) of the legally prescribed limit dose. If fewer ERCPs are performed, or if the investigations are divided up among several doctors and assistants, radiation exposure is reduced accordingly.

Under the prevailing investigation conditions additional radiation protection measures such as leadshielded safety glasses or thyroid protection do not appear necessary.