On skin dose estimation software in interventional radiology. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Colombo, P.E.; Felisi, M.; Riga, S.; Torresin, A.
• Is Part Of: Physica medica. Volume 81(2021)
• Page Start: 182
• Page End: 184
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Medical physics -- Periodicals; Biophysics -- Periodicals; Biophysics -- Periodicals; Imagerie médicale -- Périodiques; Radiothérapie -- Périodiques; Rayons X -- Sécurité -- Mesures -- Périodiques; Physique -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; 610.153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2020.12.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1120-1797

Abstract

Highlights: Peak Skin Dose (PSD) is essential for patient follow up in interventional radiology. Many tools are available to calculate PSD, both commercial and open source. Medical Physicists should know the algorithm limitations before clinical use. Skin dose calculation tools have to be validated on phantoms and patients. Algorithm customization with specific and measured correction factors is suitable. Abstract: In recent years, a growing interest has been shown in the implementation of software dedicated to the skin dose calculation, since the Fluoroscopically Guided Interventions are expanding in various medical areas. In this regard, a review article recently published by Malchair et al. (2020) is of great importance as it provides the reader with useful references to the software currently available to estimate the patient's skin dose. Despite the usefulness of collecting and summarizing in one paper the different software solutions, a few critical issues have emerged related to some parameters and configurations used in the estimation; additional details concerning patient's size and position can be added to the information cited by the authors, giving greater robustness to the software calculation. Furthermore, software results cited in the benchmarking without reference cause a lack of solid information. Our suggestion is to adopt the given criteria to evaluate every available software solutions thus helping the eventual user to analyse the tool before adopting it.