Fluoroscopy-guided intervention procedure norms for occupational eye radiation dose: An overall evaluation

Abstract

The main objective of radiation management in interventional radiology is to minimise the unnecessary use of radiation. Fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures (FGI) are performed with increasing frequency in operating theatre for a growing number of procedures. In this view, we evaluate the occupational eye dose of an interventional radiologist (IR) for different dosimeter positions commonly utilised in the FGI procedures. Herein, one IR was examined for a period of three months while performing the 65 FGI procedures of different types. Eye doses of the IR were measured using the optically-stimulated luminescence dosimeters called the nanoDots (Landauer, Inc.). The IR wore the protective lead glasses equipped with the nanoDots (on the left and right eye) during the observations period. All the nanoDot measurements were conducted using the microStar reader system (Landauer Inc.). The eye dose of the IR per dose area product (DAP) was discerned to be 0.85 ± 0.13 µSv.Gy-1.cm-2 for the left eye with the protection. The estimated annual eye dose of 18.32 mSv.y-1 was below the recommended dose limit (20 mSv.y-1). The mean eye dose and DAP correlation was observed to be significant and insignificantly related to the fluoroscopy time (p < 0.05). The observed lower dose for the right eye than that of the left one was attributed to the specific position of the IR with respect to the patient. Present strategy on the occupational eye dose measurement was shown to be effective for determining the risk of the eye lens dose level in the absence of the protective lead glasses. It is established that the eye dose limit can easily exceed the recommended standard if the IR does not use the protective lead glasses with other safety equipment during the treatment.