Backscatter from radiation protective drapes in fluoroscopically guided interventions – a patient dose to consider?

Radiation protective drapes are sometimes placed on the patient during fluoroscopically guided procedures to reduce scattered radiation to medical personnel. However, there are concerns that these drapes may increase patient radiation dose due to backscattered radiation. In this study, thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were used to quantify backscattered radiation from three protective drapes, on top of and at different depths, in a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA phantom). Monte Carlo simulations were also performed to theoretically quantify backscattered radiation from lead. The results showed that the backscattered radiation varied with the material of the drape and was less than a factor of 0.001 of the radiation dose from the primary radiation beam (including backscatter from the PMMA phantom). This minor increase in patient radiation dose does not need to be considered if the use of such drapes has been justified from an occupational radiation protection perspective.