Abstract No. 296: Development of a radiation dose chart listing commonly performed interventional radiology procedures to support the interventionalist while consulting a patient population aware of the risks of medical radiation

Abstract

Over the past two decades, there has been an increase in the number of fluoroscopically and CT guided procedures along with an increase in the medical radiation dose to the general public. Perceptive and concerned patients are now asking germane questions regarding radiation dose from interventional procedures. A single source of concise and rudimentary interventional radiation doses was not found. Thus, a chart was developed listing the average patient radiation doses for commonly performed interventional radiology procedures. This chart acts as a convenient reference source supporting the interventionalist when discussing these procedures with concerned patients. Succinct charts documenting radiation dose from diagnostic radiology examinations can be expeditiously found online with a straightforward search protocol. There are numerous articles regarding interventional radiology radiation doses, but a chart comparable to the diagnostic radiology doses was not found. Consequently, a concise reference chart was created listing average patient radiation doses of commonly performed interventional radiology procedures with comparison to routine diagnostic radiology, interventional cardiology and background radiation doses. A search of the recent literature for the average radiation doses for commonly performed fluoroscopically and CT guided procedures was performed. A chart was then created which clearly states the average aforementioned medical radiation doses. Natural sources of background radiation were also provided as reference. Medical radiation use and exposure has been reported more frequently in the media generating a concerned and informed patient population. While interventionalists are well trained in performing procedures limiting the amount of radiation, they might not be able to state the accurate average radiation dose of a particular procedure to an anxious and inquisitive patient. This unique chart provides the information necessary to address such questions and can be a valuable asset in the office, the consultation room or pre operative holding area. The chart could also easily be converted into a convenient iphone or ipad application.