Evaluation of the effectiveness of a tunnel-shaped radiation shielding system in CT-guided interventions: Reduction of scattered radiation in phantom experiment

BackgroundComputed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy provides high-resolution images and is widely used for safe and accurate procedures, but it exposes operators to high radiation doses.PurposeTo develop and evaluate a tunnel-shaped shielding system to reduce operator exposure to scattered radiation during CT fluoroscopy-guided procedures.Material and MethodsThe shield, designed based on scattered radiation distribution, consists of a semi-cylindrical leaded acrylic part and a bottom plate with a non-lead shielding board surrounding the patient. Radiation doses were measured with and without the shield using patient and operator phantoms. Dosimeters were placed at 10 locations on the operator phantom, including the eye lens, thyroid, chest, abdomen, pelvis, legs, patient-side armpit, and needle-holding hand. Percentage reductions in radiation exposure were calculated.ResultsThe tunnel-shaped shield significantly reduced radiation exposure, with dose reductions of 83%-100% at the eye lens, 88%-96% at the thyroid, 84%-95% at the upper chest, 84%-92% at the lower chest, 88%-94% at the abdomen, 91%-94% at the pelvis, 57%-68% at the upper leg, 44%-83% at the lower leg, 90%-94% at the patient-side armpit, and 73%-86% at the needle-holding hand. All reductions were statistically significant.ConclusionPhantom experiments demonstrated that the tunnel-shaped shielding system effectively reduces operator exposure to scattered radiation during CT fluoroscopy-guided procedures.