Estimating occupational exposure in interventional radiology through air kerma area product − calculation of effective dose conversion factors

During interventional radiology procedures, interventionists are positioned close to the patient and directly exposed to ionizing radiation. This study presents a methodology to estimate the effective dose of interventionists through Air kerma Area Product (PKA) in three interventional procedure modalities: coronary, cerebral, and peripheral. Optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters were used in several body regions (thyroid, eye lens, abdomen, feet, and hands) to assess equivalent doses and to convert external to internal doses − leading to effective doses related to each modality. These effective doses were then correlated to the total PKA given by the equipment. Thus, an effective dose estimate factor was calculated to represent the conversion between equipment parameters and the effective dose obtained from dosimeters, resulting in a novel methodology. The agreement between the methods was in the range of ±0.13 µSv for angiographies and −8.3 to 5.3 µSv for angioplasties. These findings underscore the reliability of PKA as a predictor of effective dose, facilitating a rapid and precise assessment of occupational exposure in IR. This novel approach has the potential to enhance radiation safety protocols and optimize protection strategies for IR professionals, ensuring more accurate monitoring and control of radiation exposure in clinical settings.