Operator eye doses during computed tomography fluoroscopic lung biopsy

Ekpo, E; Bakhshi, S; Ryan, E; Hogg, P; McEntee, M

Abstract

The aim of this work was to examine the peak entrance surface air kerma
(peak ESAK) to the eyes during CT fluoroscopy lung biopsy, and the impact
of lead glasses, exposure parameters, head rotation, and height on peak ESAK
to the eyes.
Two phantoms simulating the patient and radiologist were used, and 108
exposures were made using a 16-slice Toshiba Alexion CT scanner (Toshiba
Medical Systems, Nasu, Japan). ESAK to the phantom radiologist’s right eye
was measured using an Unfors Xi dosimeter (RaySafe, Billdal, Sweden) with
and without lead glasses at two kilovoltages (120 kVp and 135 kVp) and three
milliampere settings (10 mA, 20 mA, and 30 mA. A paired t test was used to
compare peak ESAK to the eye at different angles, heights, and kVp and mA
with and without lead glasses.
Peak ESAK was higher without compared to with lead glasses ( p ⩽ 0.001).
The peak ESAK to the eyes increased as the phantom radiologist rotated toward
the gantry without lead glasses, from 2.42 μGy at 120° to 10.54 μGy at 30°
( p = 0.001). No significant difference was noted in peak ESAK with change
in phantom radiologist height ( p > 0.05). An increase from 120 kVp to 135
kVp resulted in 23% and 26% increases in peak ESAK with and without lead
glasses respectively ( p = 0.001). An increase of tube current from 10 mA to
20 mA almost doubled peak ESAK ( p = 0.005).
Findings demonstrate that lead glasses reduce ESAK to the eyes, and that
increased kVp, mA, and eye rotation to the gantry increase ESAK to the eyes.

Citation

Ekpo, E., Bakhshi, S., Ryan, E., Hogg, P., & McEntee, M. (2016). Operator eye doses during computed tomography fluoroscopic lung biopsy. Journal of Radiological Protection, 36(2), 290-298. https://doi.org/10.1088/0952-4746/36/2/290

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 18, 2016
• Online Publication Date: May 11, 2016
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: May 11, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Radiological Protection
• Print ISSN: 0952-4746
• Electronic ISSN: 1361-6498
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 290-298
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/0952-4746/36/2/290
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0952-4746/36/2/290
• Related Public URLs: http://iopscience.iop.org/journal/0952-4746;jsessionid=DC8E96DE8378871D152349472CCE203B.c1.iopscience.cld.iop.org