Thyroid Shield Research Articles

THE EFFECT OF RADIATION PROTECTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THYROID NODULES AMONG RADIOGRAPHERS IN MALANG

The use of radiation technology in Indonesia is mostly applied in the medical world and is immensely beneficial, but radiation exposure also has negative effects on health in the form of deterministic and stochastic effects. The thyroid gland is at a high risk of radiation exposure, which leads to the development of thyroid nodules. To prevent that, there must be safety measures in the use of radiation technology by implementing radiation protection, such as a thyroid shield. This study aims to examine the effect of the compliant use of a thyroid shield on the development of thyroid nodules among radiographers in Malang. This study is an observational study with the use of secondary data, where the primary data were previously gathered cross-sectionally in April 2021. The data from 40 subjects were then analyzed using a T-test with the result of the t-value = 4.299 and α = 0.000. With the result of α < 0.05 and t-value > t-distribution, this study concludes that the use of a thyroid shield has an effect on the development of thyroid nodules among radiographers in Malang, and compliant use can lower the incidence of thyroid nodules. Keywords: Radiation exposure, radiographer, thyroid nodule, thyroid

CD06 Delving in to Disperse Orange 1

Abstract Disperse Orange 1, colour index 11080, is an azo dye. Collectively, azo dyes are a common cause of textile-related allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). A 2006 European Union (EU) directive restricts the sale of any articles or dyed items that have direct and prolonged contact with the skin or the oral cavity and contain more than 30-ppm azo dyes. These include a wide range of items such clothing, bedding, furniture, toys and yarn. Despite clear regulation set out by the directive, these dyes have been detected within garments produced and sold within the EU (https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach/legislation). In our cutaneous allergy clinic, we have patch tested a total of 547 patients to the clothing and dye series. Only seven (1.3%) have tested positive to Disperse Orange 1. We present a series of cases and highlight the suspected sources of exposure. We identified a total of seven patients, four of whom were male. Their ages ranged between 20 and 78 years. Aside from Disperse Orange 1, all patients developed positive patch test results to other disperse dyes. Three patients also reacted to paraphenylenediamine. Sites affected included the head and neck (n = 4), hands (n = 2), chest (n = 1) and leg (n = 1). Other series patients tested positive to included fragrances, metals, rubber, acrylates and local anaesthetics. Suspected sources of Disperse Orange 1 included hair dyes, clothing, wound dressings and a thyroid shield. Few cases of ACD have been published on Disperse Orange 1. One report noted a textile necklace as a source of a severe localized ACD (Nygaard U, Kralund HH, Sommerlund M. Allergic contact dermatitis induced by textile necklace. Case Rep Dermatol 2013; 5:336–9). We wish to raise awareness of the presence of problems with Disperse Orange 1, despite the EU directive. Members should consider a variety of sources, including traditional items such as clothing and hair dyes and also newer items such as dressings and thyroid shields, as suspected in our cases.

Current state of awareness and safety practices for ionising radiation risks in orthopaedic doctors in Navi Mumbai: an online survey

Background: Radiographic imaging in orthopaedic surgical centers is becoming more common, posing additional risks to the orthopaedic doctors, who become more exposed to ionising irradiation. As a result, orthopaedic surgeons must have a good understanding of radiation hazards. Despite these issues, many orthopaedic specialists do not get basic radiation safety training. A review of orthopaedic specialists' understanding, awareness, and routine radiation safety practices at an academic hospital in Navi Mumbai. Methods: After institutional ethical approval, a panel of experts created an online survey comprising multiple-choice questions, which was utilized to perform a descriptive research. The questionnaire contained several aspects, each of which assessed orthopaedic understanding, awareness, and practices. The research cohort comprised orthopaedic doctors working through our tertiary medical center and medical college. Results: According to our findings, only 82% of respondents were aware of the radiation dangers associated with fluoroscopy. The use of lead aprons, thyroid shields, goggles, and protective caps is 99%, 42%, 25%, and 25%, respectively. Despite the fact that 60% of respondents were aware of TLD badges. Only 23% of those who operate with inosing radiation use TLD badges. Approximately 61% of respondents were ignorant of intermittent fluoroscopy, and 85% utilized the C-arm tube while the device was active. Conclusions: The vast majority of orthopaedic doctors utilise fluoroscopic imagery in the operating room on a daily basis, but they lack in-depth information and awareness about the radiation security hazards connected with this imaging modality. It is consequently advised that a radiation safety training curriculum be implemented.

Bitewing radiography dosimetry of the PORTRAY stationary-intraoral tomosynthesis imaging system

This study measured effective (E) and equivalent doses from adult and child 3-dimensional (3D) and 2D posterior bitewing (PBW) examinations using the PORTRAY stationary-intraoral tomosynthesis radiography system. Adult and child phantoms and optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters were used to measure doses for adult-4 and child-2 projection PBW examinations acquired without (W/O) and with (W) a direct digital sensor in the beam path. Child doses without and with thyroid shielding were measured. Three-dimensional examination E values (μSv) W/O and W were 16.7 and 7.3 for adult, 9.2 and 3.5 for child, and 8.7 and 3.0 with thyroid shielding, respectively. Two-dimensional examination E values W/O and W were 4.3 and 1.5 for adult, 2.1 and 0.6 for child, and 2.0 and 0.5 with shielding, respectively. Sensor presence reduced E for all adult and child examinations (P=.0001). Child E was reduced compared with adult E for both sensor conditions in 3D (P < .0001) and 2D (P ≤ .0043) imaging. Adult and child 3D W/O and W equivalent thyroid doses did not differ (P ≥ .9996). However, child 2D W/O and W doses were lower (P ≤ .0002). Shielding produced no reduction (P ≥ .1128) for either 3D condition or 2D with the sensor (P=.6615) but reduced child 2D dose without the sensor. Inclusion of a sensor yielded significant reductions in adult and child E. Sensor presence impacted thyroid dose reduction more than shielding.

Safety measures among workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation in hospitals in AL-Muthanna Governorate, Iraq

Background: Health professionals working in the radiological departments of Al-Muthnia Hospital are at high risk of radiation exposure due to a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as thyroid shields, genital shields, and lead glass in all radiological departments, as well as a lack of staff awareness of the need to use these PPI. A study of the extent of the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for radiation workers in hospitals. Method: To determine the scope of radiation workers' obligations in hospitals about wearing personal protective equipment, a cross-sectional investigation was carried out among participants in All Radiation Units in Hospitals in the AL-Muthana Governorate. Results: This study involved 95 participants from radiological units 95 people responded overall. Their average age was 37 years, 70.5 percent of them were men, 33.0 percent of them worked as radiographers in x-ray units, the majority of them were married, and 41.1% had diplomas or other credentials. According to the study, only 45.4 percent of staff members wear PPE(lead coat) when dealing with radiation, while 50.9-92 percent of staff members report that additional PPI, including lead glasses, genital shield, and theroid shield, are unavailable. Occupational health and safety training is only provided to 63.2 percent of the staff. At a P value of 0.05, all questions are statistically significant. Study objective: Identify the extent of the obligations of radiation workers in hospitals in terms of wearing personal protective equipment.

Effectiveness of protective thyroid shield in chest X-ray imaging

Chest X-ray imaging is the most common X-ray imaging method for diagnosing coronavirus disease. The thyroid gland is one of the most radiation-sensitive organs of the body, particularly in infants and children. Therefore, it must be protected during chest X-ray imaging. Yet, because it has benefits and drawbacks, using a thyroid shield as protection during chest X-ray imaging is still up for debate.Therefore, this study aims to clarify the need for using a protective thyroid shield during chest X-ray imaging. This study was performed using different dosimeters (silica beads as a thermoluminescent dosimeter and an optically stimulated luminance dosimeter) embedded in an adult male ATOM dosimetric phantom. The phantom was irradiated using a portable X-ray machine with and without thyroid shielding. The dosimeter readings indicated that a thyroid shield reduced the radiation dose to the thyroid gland by 69% ± 18% without degrading the obtained radiograph. The use of a protective thyroid shield during chest X-ray imaging is recommended because its benefits outweigh the risks.

A Review of Radiation Protection Standards for Workers in Hospital Radiology: A Narrative Literature Review

One of the goals of radiation protection is to prevent stochastic effects from occurring and to limit the chances of stochastic effects occurring to a limit value that is acceptable to society. This literature review aims to describe radiation protection standards for workers in hospital radiology. To prevent non-stochastic effects, a limit of 0.5 Sv (50 rem) in 1 year was used for all tissues except the lens of the eye. For eyepieces, the recommended annual limit is 0.15 Sv (15 rem). This limit value is used either for radiation reception by a single tissue or for radiation reception by multiple organs. To limit stochastic effects, the annual effective equivalent dose (HE) limit for whole-body radiation reception is 50 mSv (5 rem). The radiation protection equipment that must be available at a radio diagnostic facility is a lead apron, thyroid shield, gonad protectors, gloves, Pb goggles, and lead curtains. In conclusion, radiation protection equipment must be provided by radiology facility operators and used by radiation workers, especially radiologists and other competent doctors. Periodic inspection and standardized maintenance of radiation shields must be carried out for the sake of public safety.

PD30-10 TRAINEE SAFETY DURING ENDOUROLOGY PROCEDURES: RESULTS OF A NATIONAL SURVEY OF RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023PD30-10 TRAINEE SAFETY DURING ENDOUROLOGY PROCEDURES: RESULTS OF A NATIONAL SURVEY OF RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS Kavita Gupta, Kevin Labagnara, Dima Raskolnikov, Michelle Semins, and Alexander Small Kavita GuptaKavita Gupta More articles by this author , Kevin LabagnaraKevin Labagnara More articles by this author , Dima RaskolnikovDima Raskolnikov More articles by this author , Michelle SeminsMichelle Semins More articles by this author , and Alexander SmallAlexander Small More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003316.10AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Urology trainees are at risk from numerous occupational hazards during endourology procedures including radiation, lasers, urine and blood pathogens, chemicals, and uncomfortable postures. With early awareness and education, personal danger can be reduced. We aimed to characterize and evaluate resident and fellow preparedness and safety for these occupational hazards. METHODS: Urology residents and fellows were surveyed through an online form distributed to residency program directors and endourology fellowship directors in the United States. Data were obtained on radiation/laser safety, protective equipment, ergonomics and personal injuries/exposures. Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: 68 trainees responded including 52 residents (77%) and 16 fellows (24%). Respondents were 69% male, and all AUA sections participated (NY 38%, North Central 18%, Mid Atlantic 12%, Western 10% and other 22%). Respondents performed a median 5 (IQR 4-10) endourology procedures per week. Regarding radiation safety, 65% received formal education (via online module 49%, lecture 32% and/or printed material 7%) and 35% received informal or no training. Nearly all use lead aprons (91% communal and/or 16% personal) and thyroid shields (81% communal and/or 24% personal), but only 50% use dosimeters and 16% use lead glasses. 69% have been accidentally exposed to radiation, as frequently as daily 3%, weekly 4% or monthly 15%. 3 trainees reported medical conditions potentially related to radiation including cataracts, thyroid cancer and infertility. Body fluid exposures were reported by 38% of trainees (23% eye splash and 6% sharp stick) with a median 5 (IQR 3-10) exposures. 10% have taken prophylaxis for blood borne pathogens. Finally, 47% reported no ergonomic safety education. 87% suffered acute or chronic pain related to static posturing during endourology procedures, including neck pain 49%, back pain 49%, hand/wrist pain 40%, and shoulder pain 38%. 4 respondents have sought medical attention for these pains. CONCLUSIONS: Trainee safety practices for endourology procedures are highly variable. Many lack formal education about radiation and ergonomic practices, and an alarming number have suffered exposures, medical conditions related to radiation, and acute and chronic pains from static posturing. There is a need to ensure trainees are learning methods to keep them healthy and safe during their career. Source of Funding: None © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e834 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Kavita Gupta More articles by this author Kevin Labagnara More articles by this author Dima Raskolnikov More articles by this author Michelle Semins More articles by this author Alexander Small More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Thyroid dose reduction shield with the generation of less artifacts used for fast chest CT examination

Fast chest CT scans with high-pitch factors are effective to reduce motion artifacts, but the over-ranging effect may increase harmful radiation exposure to organs which are located near the outside of the imaging area. This becomes a particular problem during chest CT imaging when managing the radiation dose to the radio-sensitive thyroid, which is located around the upper end of the imaging area. The use of an X-ray shielding material can reduce the exposure dose to the thyroid. However, when the shielding is performed using metal foil, metal artifacts definitely appear, and they interfere with the CT image. To solve this problem, we developed a novel less-artifact thyroid shield in which fine bismuth oxide particles are embedded in low-density polyurethane (PU) foam. This study aims to present the usefulness of our X-ray shield through experimentation using a human body phantom. Three kinds of thyroid shields were used: a commercially-available lead foil as a reference, investigational clay products to evaluate the proper amount of the fine bismuth oxide particles, and bismuth PU shields which are proposed in this study. Furthermore, a bismuth PU shield with an added PU spacer was fabricated for the further suppression of the artifacts. Under clinical conditions, shielding ability and image quality were evaluated. Thyroid doses were measured using small-type OSL dosimeters, and the dose reduction rates were determined. In addition, the image qualities of the thyroid and lung regions were evaluated using a contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and an artifact index (AI). When the thyroid is outside the scanning region, thyroid exposure without the shield was caused by over-ranging X-rays and showed 11 mGy. When applying bismuth with an effective mass thickness of 0.12 g/cm2 to the bismuth PU shield, the thyroid exposure dose was reduced by half. In addition, we confirmed that if this shield enters the scanning region through accident, the AI would be less than 10. Also, when using our thyroid shield, the occurrence of metal artifacts was drastically suppressed. In conclusion, our thyroid shield can reduce the radiation exposure dose in half while maintaining acceptable image quality. This is a valuable tool in solving the issue of radiation exposure when performing fast chest CT scans. The shield has breathability and flexibility, and patients can apply the shield to their necks by themselves.

Knowledge Regarding Ionizing Radiation Exposure Safety Among Orthopedic Surgeons at Hospitals in Al-Madinah.

Background and objective The use of radiation imaging techniques in operation theaters is essential fornumerous surgical procedures and patients' overall well-being. Radiation imaging techniques enable the surgeon to have a real-time visualization of the anatomy and to perform operations with a greater chance of success, decrease rates of patient morbidity, and enablesurgeons to obtain imaging records before the patient leaves the theater room. However, with the increased use of imaging techniques in orthopedic surgical operations, orthopedic surgeons are being exposed to higher levels of radiation, and hence they can be classified as a high-risk group for occupational radiation exposure. This study aimed to assess orthopedic surgeons'awareness and knowledge regarding radiation exposure safety. Materials and methods Aquestionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2022 to assess the knowledge regarding ionizing radiation exposure safetyamong orthopedic surgeons, including consultants, specialists, and residents, at both private and governmental hospitals in Al-Madinah city, Saudi Arabia. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Al-Madinah (approval number: H-03-l.l-084). The applied statistical tests were frequency and MCT tests for univariate variables while Chi-square was applied for bivariate variables. With a 95% confidence interval (CI), a p-value of more than 0.05 was used as the cut-off value for the significance level. Results A total of 57 surgeons participated in the study, of which 57.9%were exposed to radiationtwo to three times per week. Additionally, more than half of the physicians (66.7%) were not trained to use fluoroscopy (C-arm machine). Of note, 78.9% of orthopedic surgeons reported that they used the protective apron as protective equipment, while 17.5% of them used both a protective apron and thyroid shield. However, only less than half of the orthopedic surgeons(43.9%) in our study practiced radiation safety in the operating room. Conclusion Our study revealed a lack of knowledge and awareness related to ionizing radiation exposure safety among orthopedic surgeons in Al-Madinah city, Saudi Arabia.

Analysis of precautions taken for protection from X-rays in a hospital in Gaziantep in the context of workplace health and safety

ObjectiveHealthcare personnel who work in units of hospitals where ionizing radiation is used are in an at risk group, and their health statuses should be periodically monitored. Although some health problems do not emerge right after exposure to low-dose radiation, various diseases can arise in the long term. The purpose of this study is to promote responsibility among radiology professionals and prevent diseases that may emerge in the future by drawing attention to context of workplace health and safety. In this study, measurements were made at locations where radiology personnel worked. MethodRadiation measurements were obtained based on five repeated measurements at different points of the drafting chambers. It has been observed that the measurement values are close to each other. However, comparisons were made by taking the average values. In this study, X-ray measurements were made with three patients in four different hospital units. The Fluke 451 Ion Chamber Radiation Survey Meter device was used in the measurements, and the measurements were made based on the positions of the personnel in the radiation field in all units of the hospital where X-rays were used. The minimum measurement value was found behind the lead screen as 0.01 μSv, while the highest value was found in the room where the images were taken by wearing lead aprons and thyroid shields as 410 μSv. ResultsThe findings of this paper include the minimum and maximum values of X rays during imaging at different hospital units which are mammography, computed tomography, fixed X-ray machine and bone densitometry machine. ConclusionTo prevent these personnel from exceeding the standard exposure limits in terms of workplace health and safety, ensuring that they constantly use protective equipment and limiting the number of imaging procedures they carry out will be beneficial in terms of health in the long term.

A comparison of doses from contemporary extraoral bitewing radiography: Child and adult examinations

<h3>Objective</h3> To compare the effective doses (E) from two panoramic (PAN)/extraoral bitewing (EOBW) systems with an industry-standard intraoral bitewing (IOBW) system for adult and child phantoms. The feasibility and impact of thyroid shielding during EOBW was also evaluated. <h3>Study Design</h3> This preclinical experimental study utilizing anthropomorphic phantoms (average adult and 10-year-old child) modified to accept optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters evaluated E from two extraoral units: RayScan ALPHA (Buena Park, CA) and Sirona ORTHOPHOS SL (Charlotte, NC), and one conventional IO unit using circular (CC) and rectangular (RC) collimation (FOCUS Instrumentarium, Brea, CA). Phantom sequences were triplicated for all modality combinations and average E was calculated. Exposure parameters were: Orthophos- 85kV, 7-13mA, 5.1s; RayScan- 80kV, 12-14mA, 7.2s; Focus- 70kV, 7mA, 0.5-1.28s. <h3>Results</h3> E from child and adult PAN and EOBW examinations was significantly lower for Orthophos compared to RayScan (p<.0001). Standard adult EOBW E (µSv) was 4.3 and 28.1 (child) and 8.6 and 30.2 (adult) for Orthophos and RayScan, respectively. For both extraoral units, EOBW E was reduced compared to PAN E. IOBW E (µSv) ranged from 7.0-11.8 (child) and 4.6-14.2 (adult) for CC and RC, respectively. IOBW examinations with CC yielded higher E than Orthophos EOBW and lower E than RayScan EOBW for the adult phantom. Significant reductions in thyroid dose (53%) from EOBW examinations were achieved using shielding with RayScan adult scans (p<.0001). Shielding did not yield notable thyroid dose reductions for child EOBW scans and produced minor artifacts intermittently. <h3>Conclusion</h3> IOBW examinations employing RC continue to yield lower E than alternative EOBW systems for adults. Dramatic dose differences may be associated with extraoral equipment selection. Detector type (2D-array vs. flat-panel) may be an indicator of potential dose differences among machines. Shielding during EOBW imaging can reduce adult thyroid dose without negatively affecting image quality. <b>Statement of Ethical Review</b> Ethical review was sought and study was exempted from ethical review

Assessment of Diagnostic Radiology Facilities Technical Radiation Protection Requirements in KSA

The national regulatory body in the state regulates the source of ionizing radiation such as diagnostic radiology to minimize exposure to the operators and the patients. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (KSA-SFDA) cover all medical regulatory aspects of ionizing radiation such as diagnostic X-ray facilities for all practices and intervention requirements. The study presents an assessment and analysis of the level of technical radiation protection requirements and the status of applying the national regulatory standards for different diagnostic facilities in KSA. Based on the online scientific recent database published in the field of radiation protection regulations and dose assessment for diagnostic radiology in KSA, and from the data published by the KSA-SFDA report in 2015. About 109 diagnostic X-ray facilities were selected from 35 governorates distributed in the kingdom. More than 95% of the examined facilities were in good condition concerning the national radiological protection technical regulation. About 11.9% of the facilities had a radiation leakage or cracks in the wall of the X-ray room/entrance door of the room. 16.5% of the facilities did not have a radiation warning sign written in Arabic/English languages. About 21.9% of the operators did not use any personal radiation dosimeter such as TLD or OSL. More than 40.7% of those facilities do not keep a record of the personal dosimeter reading at their facilities. Only 11.1% of the examined facilities do not have any personal protective tools such as a lead apron or thyroid shield. About 38.2% of the examined facilities do not carry out the annual periodic maintenance for the used X-ray machines at those facilities. From the obtained results, it was concluded that the majority of the radiation protection, radiation safety requirements and physical security measures undertaken in these facilities were in good implementation of the national and international technical regulations. The study suggests a need to apply for a quality control test procedures program regularly at those facilities.

PEMANFAATAN TIMBAL BEKAS PADA ALAT POTEKSI RADIASI APR SEBAGAI UPAYA PENERAPAN PROTEKSI RADIASI

Radiation protection is an action taken to reduce the damaging effects of radiation caused by radiation exposure. Many APRs are damaged or unfit for use where APR is used every day and for a long duration of inspection, due to various factors, including storage methods and incorrect procedures for using APR. The purpose of this research is to utilize Pb which is not suitable for use for repairs as a step to limit and optimize radiation protection for radiation workers and patients and to ensure its suitability from damage. This type of research is qualitative by using the Lead Laminated technique. The study used samples, namely Thyroid Shield with a thickness of 0.5 mm Pb and other supporting tools in the form of AIbon glue as an adhesive as well as handscoons, N95 masks, and aprons as personal protective equipment. Methods of collecting data were observation, documentation, and testing of the thyroid shield. The thyroid shield test was carried out using the MSCT Optima 660 64 slices and DR Y-Sio Max modalities. The data collection process was carried out in 3 stages, namely pre-repair, after post-repair, and after observation within 2 months. Based on the observations in Table 2, it was obtained that the previous cracks were well covered and there were no cracks either in the old location or in the new location. The results of the observations showed promising results in repairing the radiation protection device (APR) on the thyroid shield sample using the lead laminated technique. The image results show that there is no crack after repairing the thyroid shield. However, there are pieces of Pb from the repair that are loose from the thyroid shield, which could be due to uneven gluing and less drying during the repair process. Keywords: repair, radiation protection device, thyroid shield

Is thyroid shielding recommendable during upper anterior radioagraphy in young patients?

During intraoral radiography of the upper anterior teeth, the dose the patient is exposed to can be reduced by shielding the thyroid area by using a thyroid shield or collar. However, the dose to the patient is already low and it is questionable whether efforts to reduce this even further are sensible. A cost-utility analysis demonstrated that thyroid shielding is utile when it is used at least 24 times per year for upper anterior exposures in children.

Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography Contributions to Patient Dose and Personnel Exposure to Radiation during PET/CT-Guided Tumor Ablations

This study sought to quantify the positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) components of patient radiation doses and personnel exposure to radiations during PET/CT-guided tumor ablations and assess the utility of a rolling lead shield for operator protection. Two operators performed 21 PET/CT-guided ablations behind a customized, 25-mm-thick lead shield with midchest-to-midthigh coverage. The mean patient radiation dose per procedure was 3.90 mSv ± 1.13 (11.3%) from PET and 30.51 mSv ± 19.05 (88.7%) from CT. The mean primary and secondary operator exposure outside neck-level thyroid shields was 0.05 and 0.02 mSv per procedure, respectively. The radiation exposure levels behind the rolling lead shield, inside the primary operator’s thyroid shield, and on the other personnel were below the measurable threshold cumulatively over 21 procedures. The mean PET exposure level at continuous close proximity to patients was 0.02 mSv per procedure. The PET radiation doses to the patients and personnel were small. Thus, the rolling lead shield provided limited benefit.

Evaluation of thyroid radiation dose during abdominal Computed Tomography procedures and dose reduction effectiveness of thyroid shielding

IntroductionDuring abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) studies, vicinity organs receive a dose from scatter radiation. The thyroid is considered an organ at greater risk due to high radiosensitivity. MethodsThe primary objective of this study was to determine the entrances surface dose (ESD) to the thyroid during abdominal CT studies and to evaluate the efficiency of dose reduction by lead shielding. The calibrated thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) chips were used to measure the ESD during 180 contrast-enhanced (CE) and non-contrast-enhanced (NC) abdominal CT studies in the presence and absence of lead shielding. ResultsThyroid shielding reduces the ESD by 72.3% (0.55 mGy), 86.5% (2.95 mGy) and 64.0% (2.24 mGy) during NC, 3–phase and 4–phase abdominal CT scans. Also, the patient height was identified as a parameter that inversely influenced the thyroid dose, proving that the taller patients receive less dose to the thyroid. Regardless, the scan parameters such as time and display field of view (DFOV) positively impact the thyroid dose. ConclusionLead shielding can prevent the external scatter reaching the thyroid region by 64%–87% during the non-vicinity scans such as abdomen CT. However, the actual dose saving lies between 0.2% and 0.4%, compared to the total effective dose of the whole CT procedure. Implications for practiceThe thyroid shield can effectively reduce external scatter radiation during abdominal CT procedures. However, the dose saving is insignificant compared to the total effective dose from the whole examination. Therefore, the use of thyroid shielding should be carefully evaluated during CT abdomen procedures.

Staff eye lens dose in interventional radiology and cardiology in Finland

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the eye lens and whole-body radiation doses to interventional radiology and cardiology staff in two Finnish hospitals. MethodsSimultaneous measurements of personal dose equivalent quantities Hp(3) and Hp(10) were conducted in clinical conditions during different radiological and cardiological interventional procedures. In order to study the feasibility to estimate eye lens dose with Hp(10) measured over the protective apron or thyroid shield, the ratio between measured Hp(3) and Hp(10) was investigated. Results and conclusionsApplying the obtained ratio on Hp(10) records from national dose register showed that only a small number of interventional radiologists and cardiologists in Finland may exceed eye lens equivalent dose levels of 20 mSv per year or 100 mSv in five consecutive years, but likely do not exceed 50 mSv in a single year. For the most Finnish interventionalists, the eye lens dose is well below 10 mSv per year. Nurses and radiographers assisting in interventions are, on average, less exposed than interventionalists, and will not exceed 20 mSv per year. Based on our results, Hp(10) measured over the protective apron or thyroid shield provides a conservative estimate of the eye lens dose for interventional radiologists and cardiologists, provided that appropriate protective glasses are used.

Impact of thyroid gland shielding on radiation doses in dental cone beam computed tomography with small and medium fields of view

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of thyroid gland shielding on radiation doses in dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) with small and medium fields of view (FOVs). Six CBCT protocols were investigated by exposing an adult anthropomorphic male phantom head without and with thyroid shielding, using 4 small (4×5 cm) and 2 medium (10×6 cm) FOVs. Twenty metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor dosimeters were placed in the phantom head to measure absorbed doses and calculate equivalent doses at 11 sites. Effective doses were calculated based on the tissue weighting factors in International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication 103. The data were analyzed using the independent samples t test. Thyroid gland shielding led to significant equivalent dose reductions in many tissues for all protocols. Equivalent dose reductions to the thyroid were significant in all 6 protocols (P ≤ .037). Significant reduction depended on the FOV and ranged between 24.5% and 42.6% for the thyroid gland and 4.9% and 34.5% for other tissues and organs. Effective doses were significantly lower in all protocols (P ≤ .016). Thyroid gland shielding protects the thyroid gland and other organs and should be utilized with all CBCT examinations where feasible.

X-ray protective materials from barium sulfate/amorphous cellulose/natural rubber composites

In this study, barium sulfate/amorphous cellulose (Ba/AC) was incorporated into natural rubber to produce X-ray shielding materials. Ba/AC was prepared by in-situ regeneration of amorphous cellulose from eucalyptus pulp and office waste paper with barium chloride. The shielding sheets were prepared by mixing vulcanized natural rubber with Ba/AC using both office waste paper (NR-W) and purified eucalyptus pulp (NR-E) and were compared to barium sulfate powder (NR-P) used as a conventional material. NR-W and NR-E exhibited a predominant attenuation property compared to that of NR-P. The amorphous cellulose surrounded by barium sulfate is essential in distributing and reducing the aggregation of barium sulfate particles. This behavior results in most incident X-ray beams being effectively absorbed. Subsequently, prototypes were fabricated using NR-W and NR-E with a thickness of 0.25-mm Pb in accordance with the quality standards of medical diagnostic X-ray machines in Thailand. The head, thyroid, and breast shields were produced to protect from direct X-ray beams. Additionally, a lab coat was prepared to block scattered beams. Finally, the fabricated X-ray shielding prototypes are eco-friendly, cost-effective, and nontoxic.