Occupational radiation dose to the eye lens of physicians from departments of interventional radiology

Abstract

Physicians tend to receive extended radiation exposure given the complexity and machine settings of procedures in interventional radiology departments, which involve neurovascular interventional radiology (neuro-IR) and interventional radiology of body regions (general-IR). The eye lens dose was evaluated with direct measurements from the EYE-D™, Hp(3), and indirect estimation from doses measured with over-apron collar dosimeters, Hp(0.07) and Hp(10). The median value of Hp(3) for general-IR procedures was approximately 3.6 times larger than that for neuro-IR procedures. The median value of Hp(3)/kerma-area product (KAP) for physicians who did not wear lead glasses was 1.4 and 2.9 times higher than that for those who wore glasses in neuro-IR and general-IR procedures, respectively. The median value of Hp(3)/KAP for type B glasses (no lateral shielding) wearers was 6.6 and 1.5 times higher than that for type A glasses wearers for neuro-IR and general-IR procedures, respectively. Radiation protective lead glasses can reduce lens dose by 28% and 65% in neuro-IR and general-IR procedures, respectively. Proper lateral shielding is more necessary for radiation protection to the eye lens in clinical situations than is the thickness of the lead equivalent in front of the glasses. Indirect measurements from over-apron collar dosimeters could be a preliminary option for eye lens dose monitoring. However, the underestimation would be 33% of the maximum, which should be specially noted. Dedicated eye lens dosimeters are essential for accurate radiation dose monitoring in neuro-IR and general-IR procedures.