RADIATION DOSES TO THE EYE LENS AND FOREHEAD OF INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGISTS: HOW HIGH AND ON WHAT GROUNDS?

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to measure and evaluate the radiation dose to the eye lens and forehead of interventional radiologists (IRs). The study included 96 procedures (lower-limb percutaneous transluminal angioplasties, embolisations/chemoembolisations and vertebroplasties) performed by 6 IRs. A set of seven thermoluminescence dosemeters was allocated to each physician. The highest dose per procedure was found for the left eye lens of the primary operator in vertebroplasties (1576 µSv). Left and right eye doses were linearly correlated to left and right forehead doses, respectively. A workload-based estimation of the annual dose to participating IRs revealed that the occupational dose limit for the eye lens can be easily exceeded. The left eye dose of ΙRs must be routinely monitored on a personalised basis. Τhe left eye dose measurement provides a reliable assessment of the ipsilateral forehead dose, along with valid estimations for the right eye and right forehead doses.