Clinical diagnostic reference levels in neuroradiology based on clinical indication.

Abstract

This study focuses on patient radiation exposure in interventional neuroradiology (INR) procedures, a field that has advanced significantly since its inception in the 1980s. INR employs minimally invasive techniques to treat complex cerebrovascular diseases in the head, neck, and spine. The study establishes diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for three clinical indications (CIs): stroke (S), brain aneurysms (ANs), and brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Data from 209 adult patients were analyzed, and DRLs were determined in terms of various dosimetric and technical quantities. For stroke, the established DRLs median values were found to be 78Gycm2, 378mGy, 118mGy, 12min, 442 images, and 15 runs. Similarly, DRLs for brain AN are 85Gycm2, 611mGy, 95.5mGy, 19.5, 717 images, and 26 runs. For brain AVM, the DRL's are 180Gycm2, 1144mGy, 537mGy, 36min, 1375 images, and 31 runs. Notably, this study is unique in reporting DRLs for specific CIs within INR procedures, providing valuable insights for optimizing patient safety and radiation exposure management.