Peak Skin Dose Research Articles

Prostatic artery embolization: radiation exposure to patients and staff

The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiation doses to patients and staff received from the first cases of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) conducted in a public hospital in Recife, Brazil. Five PAE procedures for 5 men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia were investigated. In order to characterize patient exposure, dosimetric quantities, such as the air kerma-area product (PKA), the cumulative air kerma at the interventional reference point (Ka,r), the number of images, etc, were registered. To evaluate the possibility for deterministic effects, the peak skin dose (PSD) was measured using radiochromic films. For evaluation of personal dose equivalent and effective dose to the medical staff, thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLD-100) were used. The effective dose was estimated using the double dosimetry alghoritm of von Boetticher. The results showed that the mean patient’s PSD per procedure was 2674.2 mGy. With regard to the medical staff, the mean, minimum and maximum effective doses estimated per procedure were: 18 μSv, 12 μSv and 21 μSv respectively. High personal equivalent doses were found for the feet, hands and lens of the eye, due to the use of multiple left anterior oblique projections and the improper use of the suspended lead screen and the lead curtain during procedures.

A system to track skin dose for neuro-interventional cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

The skin-dose tracking system (DTS) provides a color-coded illustration of the cumulative skin-dose distribution on a closely-matching 3D graphic of the patient during fluoroscopic interventions in real-time for immediate feedback to the interventionist. The skin-dose tracking utility of DTS has been extended to include cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) of neurointerventions. While the DTS was developed to track the entrance skin dose including backscatter, a significant part of the dose in CBCT is contributed by exit primary radiation and scatter due to the many overlapping projections during the rotational scan. The variation of backscatter inside and outside the collimated beam was measured with radiochromic film and a curve was fit to obtain a scatter spread function that could be applied in the DTS. Likewise, the exit dose distribution was measured with radiochromic film for a single projection and a correction factor was determined as a function of path length through the head. Both of these sources of skin dose are added for every projection in the CBCT scan to obtain a total dose mapping over the patient graphic. Results show the backscatter to follow a sigmoidal falloff near the edge of the beam, extending outside the beam as far as 8 cm. The exit dose measured for a cylindrical CTDI phantom was nearly 10 % of the entrance peak skin dose for the central ray. The dose mapping performed by the DTS for a CBCT scan was compared to that measured with radiochromic film and a CTDI-head phantom with good agreement.

Method for dose-reduced 3D catheter tracking on a scanning-beam digital x-ray system using dynamic electronic collimation.

Scanning-beam digital x-ray (SBDX) is an inverse geometry x-ray fluoroscopy system capable of tomosynthesis-based 3D catheter tracking. This work proposes a method of dose-reduced 3D tracking using dynamic electronic collimation (DEC) of the SBDX scanning x-ray tube. Positions in the 2D focal spot array are selectively activated to create a region-of-interest (ROI) x-ray field around the tracked catheter. The ROI position is updated for each frame based on a motion vector calculated from the two most recent 3D tracking results. The technique was evaluated with SBDX data acquired as a catheter tip inside a chest phantom was pulled along a 3D trajectory. DEC scans were retrospectively generated from the detector images stored for each focal spot position. DEC imaging of a catheter tip in a volume measuring 11.4 cm across at isocenter required 340 active focal spots per frame, versus 4473 spots in full-FOV mode. The dose-area-product (DAP) and peak skin dose (PSD) for DEC versus full field-of-view (FOV) scanning were calculated using an SBDX Monte Carlo simulation code. DAP was reduced to 7.4% to 8.4% of the full-FOV value, consistent with the relative number of active focal spots (7.6%). For image sequences with a moving catheter, PSD was 33.6% to 34.8% of the full-FOV value. The root-mean-squared-deviation between DEC-based 3D tracking coordinates and full-FOV 3D tracking coordinates was less than 0.1 mm. The 3D distance between the tracked tip and the sheath centerline averaged 0.75 mm. Dynamic electronic collimation can reduce dose with minimal change in tracking performance.

Kerma-area product is not a useful indictor of potential tissue reactions in interventional radiology

Potential for tissue reactions post interventional radiological procedure is well recognised. Identifying tissue reactions is not always straight forward and implementation of international guidance varies.This single site study investigates the appropriateness of using a kerma-area product value of 500 Gy cm2 (assumed field size 100 cm2) to highlight potential skin injury/tissue reactions post interventional radiology procedures. MethodKerma-area product doses for all interventional radiological procedures over a 2 year period in a major tertiary referral hospital were retrospectively audited. A PKA of 500 Gy cm2 was used as an indicator of necessitating patient follow up for potential tissue reactions (potential peak skin dose of 3 Gy). Procedure parameters were recorded for all procedures reaching this dose. These were used to devise clinically representative phantom studies to facilitate peak skin dose measurement for each procedure identified. Results5156 interventional radiology procedures were reviewed. 13 patients registered a kerma-area product dose of 500 Gy cm2 or more. 6 patients underwent percutaneous cardiac interventions and 7 had embolization of gastro-intestinal haemorrhage.Subsequent phantom studies representative of percutaneous cardiac interventions and embolization of gastro-intestinal haemorrhage procedures resulted in peak skin doses of 2.6 Gy and 1.5 Gy respectively for a PKA value of 500 Gy cm2. ConclusionA Kerma-area product of 500 Gy cm2 alone is not a useful indicator of potential tissue reactions for percutaneous cardiac interventions or gastrointestinal haemorrhage embolization's. Extensive analysis of procedure parameters (particularly c arm movement, focus to skin distance and mean field size) post procedure is suggested to further quantify potential for tissue reaction.

Radiation Dose in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures of Congenital Heart Diseases in Children

Background: There is concern about radiation dose in children during cardiovascular catheterization and many believe that the use of computerized tomography is much better than conventional catheterization and angiography. The aim of this study is to compare the radiation dose between diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in children. Methods: 178 patients with congenital heart disease enrolled in this study. Patients have been divided into 3 groups of CT angiography, conventional angiography and intervention. Data include: sex, age, weight, fluoroscopy time, total radiation dose of CT angiography, the amount of reference point air Kerma (Ka, r) (reference dose) and kerma area product (Pka) of fluoroscopy machine. Peak skin dose (PSD) was calculated for intervention and conventional angiography patients using the following formula: PSD = 249 + 5.2 × PKA. The data has been analyzed by SPSS version 20. In this study the P-value less than 0.05 was considered meaningful. Results: The patients were similar in sex, age and weight in all the three groups. The mean reference point air kerma (ka,r) in intervention group was meaningfully higher than the other two groups (P < 0.001) , but in some patients of CT Angiography group the radiation dose was higher than conventional angiography group. The mean kerma area product (pka) in intervention group was higher than angiography group, although this difference is less meaningful statistically (P = 0.049). The Fluoroscopy time (P = 0.035) in intervention group was meaningfully higher than angiography group. The mean calculated pick skin dose (PSD) was 437 ± 383 miligray and 213 ± 508 miligray for intervention and conventional angiography groups respectively (P < 0.001). In intervention group, Fluoroscopy time (P = 0.037), ka,r (P = 0.17) ( and Pka (P = 0.02) are more about VSD closure than other procedures. Conclusions: Given the results of this study, the use of fluoroscopy for diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cardiovascular diseases is safe but with due attention to sensitivity of children to some side effects of X-ray compared to adults, considering safety advices in order to reduce fluoroscopy time, radiation dose and the use of standard protection to reduce X-ray absorption is necessary.

Radiation Exposure during Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty for Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease

Endovascular interventions often are the preferred treatment in peripheral arterial disease for both intermittent claudication and chronic critical limb ischemia. Ever more advanced and anatomically complex procedures are being performed, which may increase the radiation exposure of patients and medical staff. We sought to determine the radiation exposure sustained in contemporary interventional radiology practice. A single-center observational cohort study of patients undergoing endovascular interventions for symptomatic peripheral arterial disease between January 1st, 2011 and July 31st, 2013 was performed. Radiation dose area product (DAP), peak skin dose (PSD), fluoroscopy time, and volume of contrast media were either measured or calculated and stratified according to patient demographics and anatomic location. In 951 patients, who were treated with endovascular interventions, mean DAP was 108±88Gy×cm(2) and mean fluoroscopy time was 13±12min. DAP was significantly higher for aortoiliac procedures (142±103Gy×cm(2)) compared with femoral (58±73Gy×cm(2)), below-knee (45±51Gy×cm(2)) and multilevel (83±90Gy×cm(2)) procedures (P<0.001 for all comparisons). PSD was significantly higher for aortoiliac procedures (0.99±0.54Gy) compared with femoral (0.55±0.55Gy), below-knee (0.48±0.27Gy), and multilevel (0.68±0.47Gy) procedures (P<0.001 for all comparisons). In contrast, mean fluoroscopy time in aortoiliac interventions was significantly shorter (10±15min) compared with femoral (15±12min), below-knee (19±10min), and multilevel (23±14min) procedures (P<0.001 for all comparisons). Endovascular interventions in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease involve a substantial radiation dose. Although fluoroscopy time is shorter, aortoiliac interventions result in greater radiation exposure than femoropopliteal or infrapopliteal interventions.

A prospective case control comparison of the ZeroGravity system versus a standard lead apron as radiation protection strategy in neuroendovascular procedures

Background and purposeWe aimed to compare the performance of the ZeroGravity (ZG) system (radiation protection system composed by a suspended lead suit) against the use of standard protection (lead apron...

TCT-281 Real-Time Radiation Monitoring Reduces Patient Peak Skin Dose During Coronary Angiography

Exposure to ionizing radiation during coronary angiography can have dose related effects including skin damage. Angiography systems providing a real-time pictorial display of patient skin dose are now available. Hypothesis: The use of a real-time radiation skin dose monitor displaying a color

Measuring skin dose in CT examinations under complex geometries: Instruments, methods and considerations

ObjectiveTo investigate skin dose in Computed Tomography (CT) and its dependence on scanning geometry. Materials and methodsMeasurements of entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) in free air and entrance skin dose (ESD) on an anthropomorphic phantom were performed in a 64-slice CT scanner, using two different instruments: the Dose Profiler (DP) and the QED skin diode (QEDSD). Using DP and QEDSD, the ESAK rate profiles at the isocenter and at different distances from it, were measured using axial scans. Using DP and helical scans the ESAK rate profile in the Z-axis was acquired. The same profile was acquired with the QEDSD also, using many axial scans and manual table translation. ESD measurements were performed with the DP and QEDSD, in axial and helical scan mode. ResultsESAK measurements with DP and QEDSD were in good agreement, for both point dose and profile measurements. The agreement was also good for ESD measurements but not for helical scans, due to variable X-ray beam overlapping and different tube angular positions at each scan start. It was observed that the ESD values at different Y-axis offsets were comparable to the respective ESAK values recorded at the same Y-axis offset distances without the phantom. ConclusionsBoth DP and QEDSD were proven suitable for performing point ESD measurements. However, calculating the skin dose distribution in CT examinations is a very challenging task. A practical approach would be for CT scanners to provide a conservative estimate of the peak skin dose using the isocenter ESAK value.

Investigation of dose to patients in conventional cardiac intervention

Objective To investigate patient doses undergoing routine interventional cardiology procedures in China. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 238 adult patients who achieved one of interventional procedures including coronary angiography (CAG), percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RF). According to intervention operations, all cases were divided into three groups: CAG (77), PTCA (95) and RF (66). Data of four special metrics, peak skin dose (PSD), dose-area product (DAP), cumulative dose (CD), and fluoroscopy time (FT), these parameters were measured and collected for these procedures. Frequencies of high-dose cases (PSD>2 Gy and PSD>3 Gy) were specifically recorded. Third quartile of DAP distribution was used to establish dose reference level (DRL) and then DRL values in this study were compared with ones reported in literatures. Wallis Kruskal rank-sum test was used to compare radiation dose of patients undergoing different intervention procedures. The total correlation among CD, DAP and PSD was analyzed by Spearman method. Results For patients undergoing CAG,PTCA and RF procedure, the median PSDs were 0.24, 1.05 and 0.62 Gy, respectively.The median DAPs were 34.99, 94.53 and 36.33 Gy·cm2, respectively.The median CDs were 0.39, 1.27 and 0.36 Gy, respectively.The median FTs were 4.50, 15.31 and 13.40 min, respectively. The difference among procedures was statistically significant (χ2=105.083, 92.032, 115.509, 100.883, respectively, P 2 Gy, including 14 patients undergoing PTCA and 8 patients undergoing RF. There were 1.6% (22/238) patients with PSD>3 Gy, including 1 patients undergoing PTCA and 3 patients undergoing RF. The DRL for PTCA in this study is 133 Gy·cm2 and higher than that in literatures. The DRL for CAG in this study is 46 Gy·cm2 and slight lower than that in literatures. The DRL for RF in this study is 49 Gy·cm2. Conclusion Data from this study are in the range of most reported values for CAG and RF procedure, while higher than that obtained in some literatures for PTCA. Key words: Heart; Radiology, interventional; Radiation dose; Comparative study

WE-AB-303-06: Combining DAO with MV + KV Optimization to Improve Skin Dose Sparing with Real-Time Fluoroscopy

Purpose: Real-time fluoroscopy may allow for improved patient positioning and tumor tracking, particularly in the treatment of lung tumors. In order to mitigate the effects of the imaging dose, previous studies have demonstrated the effect of including both imaging dose and imaging constraints into the inverse treatment planning object function. That method of combined MV+kV optimization may Result in plans with treatment beams chosen to allow for more gentle imaging beam-on times. Direct-aperture optimization (DAO) is also known to produce treatment plans with fluence maps more conducive to lower beam-on times. Therefore, in this work we demonstrate the feasibility of a combination of DAO and MV+kV optimization for further optimized real-time kV imaging. Methods: Therapeutic and imaging beams were modeled in the EGSnrc Monte Carlo environment, and applied to a patient model for a previously treated lung patient to provide dose influence matrices from DOSXYZnrc. An MV + kV IMRT DAO treatment planning system was developed to compare DAO treatment plans with and without MV+kV optimization. The objective function was optimized using simulated annealing. In order to allow for comparisons between different cases of the stochastically optimized plans, the optimization was repeated twenty times. Results: Across twenty optimizations, combined MV+kV IMRT resulted in an average of 12.8% reduction in peak skin dose. Both non-optimized and MV+kV optimized imaging beams delivered, on average, mean dose of approximately 1 cGy per fraction to the target, with peak doses to target of approximately 6 cGy per fraction. Conclusion: When using DAO, MV+kV optimization is shown to Result in improvements to plan quality in terms of skin dose, when compared to the case of MV optimization with non-optimized kV imaging. The combination of DAO and MV+kV optimization may allow for real-time imaging without excessive imaging dose. Financial support for the work has been provided in part by NIH Grant T32 EB002103, ACS RSG-13-313-01-CCE, and NIH S10 RR021039 and P30 CA14599 grants. The contents of this submission do not necessarily represent the official views of any of the supporting organizations.

Evaluation of a real-time display for skin dose map in cardiac catheterisation procedures.

The purpose of this work was to validate a prototype designed to display skin dose maps in real time for clinicians that perform interventional cardiology procedures. Measurements using copper absorbers and three kinds of dosemeters (solid-state, radiochromic film and optically stimulated luminescence) were performed in a catheterisation laboratory. Some clinical results are also discussed. The system provides patient skin doses with acceptable accuracy, taking into account couch shifts, wedge compensation filters and collimation. The greatest source of uncertainty is that resulting from patient shape modelling. From a set of 374 patients recorded, it can be concluded that the peak skin dose (PSD) for patients with the same cumulative air kerma at the patient entrance reference point can be rather different. This real-time skin dose calculator has resulted easier to manage for measuring patient PSDs than other methods based on films or CR plates. As well as an improvement for patient safety, it could prove a useful training tool for clinicians.

A Real-Time Skin Dose Tracking System for Biplane Neuro-Interventional Procedures.

A biplane dose-tracking system (Biplane-DTS) that provides a real-time display of the skin-dose distribution on a 3D-patient graphic during neuro-interventional fluoroscopic procedures was developed. Biplane-DTS calculates patient skin dose using geometry and exposure information for the two gantries of the imaging system acquired from the digital system bus. The dose is calculated for individual points on the patient graphic surface for each exposure pulse and cumulative dose for both x-ray tubes is displayed as color maps on a split screen showing frontal and lateral projections of a 3D-humanoid graphic. Overall peak skin dose (PSD), FOV-PSD and current dose rates for the two gantries are also displayed. Biplane-DTS uses calibration files of mR/mAs for the frontal and lateral tubes measured with and without the table in the beam at the entrance surface of a 20 cm thick PMMA phantom placed 15 cm tube-side of the isocenter. For neuro-imaging, conversion factors are applied as a function of entrance field area to scale the calculated dose to that measured with a Phantom Laboratory head phantom which contains a human skull to account for differences in backscatter between PMMA and the human head. The software incorporates inverse-square correction to each point on the skin and corrects for angulation of the beam through the table. Dose calculated by Biplane DTS and values measured by a 6-cc ionization chamber placed on the head phantom at multiple points agree within a range of -3% to +7% with a standard deviation for all points of less than 3%.

Deterministic effects after fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair

Endovascular aortic aneurysm repairs (EVARs) with fenestrated (FEVAR) stent grafts are high radiation dose cases, yet no skin injuries were found retrospectively in our 61 cases with a mean peak skin dose (PSD) of 6.8 Gy. We hypothesize that skin injury is under-reported. This study examined deterministic effects in FEVARs after procedural changes implemented to detect skin injury. All FEVARs during a 6-month period with a radiation dose of 5 Gy reference air kerma (RAK; National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements threshold for substantial radiation dose level [SRDL]) were included. Patients were questioned about skin erythema, epilation, and necrosis, with a physical examination of the back completed daily until discharge and then at 2 and 4 weeks and at 3 and 6 months. PSD distributions were calculated with custom software using input data from fluoroscopic machine logs. These calculations have been validated against Gafchromic (Ashland Inc, Covington, Ky) film measurements. Dose was summed for the subset of patients with multiple procedures ≤6 months of the SRDL event, consistent with the joint commission recommendations. Twenty-two patients, 21 FEVARs and one embolization, reached an RAK of 5 Gy. The embolization procedure was excluded from review. The average RAK was 7.6 ± 2.0 Gy (range, 5.1-11.4 Gy), with a mean PSD of 4.8 ± 2.0 Gy (range, 2.3-10.4 Gy). Fifty-two percent of patients had multiple endovascular procedures ≤6 months of the SRDL event. The mean RAK for this subset was 10.0 ± 2.9 Gy (range, 5.5-15.1 Gy), with a mean PSD of 6.6 ± 1.9 Gy (range, 3.4-9.4 Gy). One patient died before the first postoperative visit. No radiation skin injuries were found. Putative risk factors for skin injury were evaluated and included smoking (32%), diabetes (14%), cytotoxic drugs (9%), and fair skin type (91%). No other risk factors were present (hyperthyroidism, collagen vascular disorders). Deterministic skin injuries are uncommon after FEVAR, even at high RAK levels, regardless of cumulative dose effects. This study addresses the concern of missed injuries based on the retrospective clinical examination findings that were published in our previous work. Even with more comprehensive postoperative skin examinations and patient questioning, the fact that no skin injuries were found suggests that radiation-induced skin injuries are multifactorial and not solely dose dependent.

Patient Peak Skin Dose and Dose Area Product from Interventional Cardiology Procedures

Information about the peak skin dose and Dose Area product (DAP) from percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary angiography (CA) was collected from three catheter application rooms. The range of maximum photon energy was 50 - 125 kVp and the fluoroscopy time was 0.6 - 52 seconds. Values of up to 143 Gy·cm2 for DAP and 0.752 mGy for cumulative dose (CD) were found in CA procedures. Otherwise the DAP and CD for PTCA were found to be 143 Gy·cm2 and 2.287 mGy respectively in 3rd Quartile. The relation between the fluoroscopy time and the DAP is also considered. Objectives: The objective of this study is to obtain information about patient peak skin doses (PSD), dose area product (DAP), Fluoroscopy Time (FT) and Cumulative Dose (CD) from PTCA and CA which is the most predominant with respect to high skin doses in addition to other procedures. The aim of this study is also to assess the radiation dose received by patients undergoing interventional radiology procedures, by identifying the procedures that deliver the highest doses. This study is also helpful to establish the reference dose level for adult patients undergoing interventional procedure, and to provide recommendations on how to reduce dose on selected procedures that have been identified to deliver patient dose values near the ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) threshold values.

C-arm rotation as a method for reducing peak skin dose in interventional cardiology.

PurposeProlonged interventional cardiology (IC) procedures may result in radiation-induced skin injury, a potentially preventable cause of patient morbidity. Rotating the C-arm during an IC procedure may reduce this risk, although the methods by which the technique can be practically applied remains unexplored. A previous study demonstrated that C-arm rotation often increases peak skin dose (PSD) in interventional radiology procedures. The purpose of this study was to determine whether C-arm rotation reduces the PSD in IC procedures and, if so, under what circumstances.Materials and methodsSimulations were performed using a numerical ray-tracing algorithm to analyse the effect of C-arm rotation on PSD across a range of patient sizes, C-arm configurations and procedure types. Specific data from modern fluoroscopes and patient dimensions were used as inputs to the simulations.ResultsIn many cases, modest C-arm rotation angles completely eliminated overlap between X-ray field sites on the skin. When overlap remained, PSD increases were generally small. One exception was craniocaudal rotation, which tended to increase PSD. C-arm rotation was most effective for large patients and small X-ray field sizes. Small patients may not benefit from C-arm rotation as a procedural modification. The use of a prophylactic method where the C-arm was rotated between small opposing oblique angles was effective in reducing PSD.ConclusionsWith the exception of rotation to steep craniocaudal angles, rotating the C-arm reduces PSD in IC procedures when used as either a procedural modification or a prophylactic strategy. Tight collimation increases the benefit of C-arm rotation.

Kerma-area product in diagnostic radiology.

W565 is traveling through air, and it is how the intensity (strength) of the x-ray beam is characterized [6]. Air kerma can be thought of as the number of individual x-ray photons per unit area, which therefore says nothing about the extent (area) of the x-ray beam. Although xray photon energies play a role in determining air kerma, this is a secondary factor that is of little interest or concern to radiologists. Air kerma is expressed in grays or milligrays. The main use of air kerma is in estimating the (peak) skin dose in interventional radiology, where there is the possibility of skin doses high enough to result in patient radiation burns [7, 8]. Knowledge of air kerma in conventional radiography and fluoroscopically guided barium studies and urologic examinations is of little interest because skin doses are generally well below the threshold doses for the induction of deterministic effects.

Development of an analytical peak skin dose calculation tool in interventional radiology

Development of an analytical peak skin dose calculation tool in interventional radiology

Establishment of trigger levels to steer the follow-up of radiation effects in patients undergoing fluoroscopically-guided interventional procedures in Belgium

The accumulated dose to the skin of the patient during fluoroscopically-guided procedures can exceed the thresholds for tissue reactions. In practice, interventionalists have no direct information about the local procedure-related skin doses in their patient, causing suboptimal or delayed treatment. In current study, the accumulated Kerma-Area-Product (KAP) values were registered, as well as the reference air kerma (Ka,r) values, if available, for almost 200 cases undergoing seven different procedures. A sheet filled with 50 thermoluminescent dosemeters was wrapped around each patient to measure the peak skin dose. In a significant part of the Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPSS) procedures, chemo-embolizations of the liver and cerebral embolizations, the threshold values for deterministic skin damage (2 Gy) were attained. Trigger values in terms of KAP, corresponding to a peak skin dose of 2 Gy, were determined. In general, our results comply reasonably well with the values proposed in the NCRP 168 report, with a KAP value of 425 Gy cm² and a Ka,r value of 3 Gy, corresponding to a peak skin dose of 3 Gy. Only for the TIPSS procedure a considerably lower value of 2 Gy was obtained at the published Ka,r and for the RF ablations we obtained a considerably lower value of 250 Gy cm² in terms of KAP.

A new method of real-time skin dose visualization. Clinical evaluation of fluoroscopically guided interventions.

We have conducted a prospective study to clinically evaluate a new radiation dose observing tool that displays patient's peak skin dose (PSD) map in real time. The skin dose map (SDM) prototype quantifies the air kerma based on exposure parameters from the X-ray system. The accuracy of this prototype was evaluated with radiochromic films, which were used as a mean for PSD measurement. The SDM is a reliable tool that provides an accurate PSD estimation and location. SDM also has many advantages over the radiochromic films, such as real-time dose evaluation and easy access to critical operational parameters for physicians and technicians.