Estimating radiation exposure of the brain of a physician with a protective flap in interventional radiology: A phantom study. Issue 3 (19th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hattori, Shota; Monzen, Hajime; Tamura, Mikoto; Kosaka, Hiroyuki; Nakamura, Yasunori; Nishimura, Yasumasa
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied clinical medical physics. Volume 23:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-01-19
• Subjects: brain exposure -- interventional radiology -- occupational exposure -- protective flap -- radiation protection; Medical physics -- Periodicals; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Health Physics; Clinical Medicine; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; 610.153
• DOI: 10.1002/acm2.13532
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-9914

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: The efficiency of protective equipment for the brain has not been verified at the left anterior oblique (LAO) position, which is commonly used in clinical procedures. The purpose of this study was to investigate radiation exposure of the brain in interventional radiology (IR) and the shielding ability of a new protective flap. Methods: We made a flap that combined a protective cap with a left lateral face shield. The flap was made of tungsten‐containing rubber (TCR). An anthropomorphic head phantom was placed at the physician's position, and air kerma rates (μGy/min and μGy/15s) were measured by electronic dosimeter at three locations: the surface of the left side of the head, and the left and right temporal lobes with the protective cap and the flap in fluoroscopy and cine modes. The X‐ray tube was at the lower left side of the physician, and its angles were LAO60 and LAO60CAU40. The tube voltage (95–125 kV), tube current (4.7–732 mA), and air kerma rate (27.8–1078 mGy/min) were automatically adjusted by the X‐ray system. We obtained the cap and the flap shielding efficiencies. Results: In cine mode at LAO60CAU40, the shielding efficiencies on the surface of the left side of the head and left temporal lobe with the cap were 92.6% and 5.1%, respectively, and the corresponding shielding efficiencies with the flap were 92.5% and 86.1%, respectively. The flap can reduce radiation exposure of the brain more than the cap alone. Conclusions: At the left anterior oblique in interventional radiology, the flap can reduce exposure to the brain.