Mobile head CT with integrated radiation shielding reduces the need for additional personal protective equipment

OBJECTIVES: To assess occupational exposure in a neurointensive care unit (NICU) equipped with a mobile head CT system. METHODS: The exposure was investigated in a NICU equipped with the recently introduced Siemens Healthineers SOMATOM On.site mobile head CT system, which features integrated radiation shielding consisting of a foldable 0.5-mm lead curtain covering the front of the gantry opening and a detachable 1-mm lead radiation shield covering its back. Ambient dose (H∗(10)) and scattered radiation (air kerma) were measured at selected locations. Moreover, the radiology nurse operating the scanner and the primary clinician attending the examinations wore passive dosimeters on their protective glasses to estimate the eye lens dose (Hp(3)), and active dosimeters on the chest pocket of their protective aprons to estimate the effective dose (Hp(10)). RESULTS: The integrated radiation shielding typically achieves a 91-99% dose reduction, such that, over a three-month period, neither the ambient dose nor the eye lens doses measured exceeded the minimum detectable level of the dosimeters. The average doses measured by active personal dosimeters across 31 adult patient examinations were 0.07 ± 0.03 µSv for the operating nurse and 0.03 ± 0.02 µSv for the attending clinician. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile head CT with integrated shielding can substantially reduce occupational exposure and, with appropriate radiation safety training, obviate the need for additional personal protective equipment, especially when personnel remain behind the operator console. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This work provides practical guidance to ensure occupational radiation safety when using a mobile head CT system in the NICU.