Yasuhiro Koguchi

Direct measurement of patient's entrance skin dose during neurointerventional procedure to avoid further radiation-induced skin injuries

Although several cases of radiation-induced skin injury (RSI) have been reported in association with neurointerventional procedures such as endovascular embolization for cerebral aneurysm, cerebral arteriovenous malformation, and dural arteriovenous fistula, in most cases the absorbed doses are not measured directly; therefore, we built the first direct measurement system that enables the ideal dosimetry for entrance skin dose (ESD) during neurointerventional procedures to be easily determined. This system was then applied to a 55-year-old man who underwent two transvenous embolizations with a 2-month interval, for a right cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula, to establish the efficacy of precise mapping of ESDs. Throughout the procedures, the patient wore a fitted dosimetry cap that contained 60 radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeter (RPLGD) chips. After the first procedure, temporary epilation occurred in the occipital region. Precise mapping of ESDs revealed that this region was exposed to 4.2Gy. In the first procedure, the X-ray tube was generally positioned straight for an optimal posterior-anterior view; however, in the second procedure we intermittently used the second-best position to prevent further RSI. In this position, the maximum ESD was 1.0Gy in the right posterior-temporal region and the epilation site was exposed to </=0.7Gy. Thus, the patient did not develop any further epilation. We conclude that direct dosimetry using multiple RPLGDs can accurately reveal the maximum ESD and that precise information regarding ESD can prevent further RSIs from subsequent procedures.

Fundamental study on the characteristics of a radiophotoluminescence glass dosemeter with no energy compensation filter for measuring patient entrance doses in cardiac interventional procedures

Cardiac interventional procedures have been increasing year by year. However, radiation skin injuries have been still reported. There is a necessity to measure the patient entrance skin dose (ESD), but an accurate dose measurement method has not been established. To measure the ESD, a lot of radiophotoluminescence dosemeters (RPLDs) provide an accurate measurement of the direct actual ESD at the points they are arrayed. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of RPLD to measure the ESD. As a result, X-ray permeable RPLD (with no tin filter) did not interfere with the percutaneous coronary intervention procedure. The RPLD also had good fundamental performance characteristics. Although the RPLD had a little energy dependence, it showed excellent dose and dose-rate linearity, and good angular dependence. In conclusion, by calibrating the energy dependence, RPLDs are useful dosemeter to measure the ESD in cardiac intervention.

Direct measurement of a patient's entrance skin dose during pediatric cardiac catheterization

Children with complex congenital heart diseases often require repeated cardiac catheterization; however, children are more radiosensitive than adults. Therefore, radiation-induced carcinogenesis is an important consideration for children who undergo those procedures. We measured entrance skin doses (ESDs) using radio-photoluminescence dosimeter (RPLD) chips during cardiac catheterization for 15 pediatric patients (median age, 1.92 years; males, n = 9; females, n = 6) with cardiac diseases. Four RPLD chips were placed on the patients posterior and right side of the chest. Correlations between maximum ESD and dose–area products (DAP), total number of frames, total fluoroscopic time, number of cine runs, cumulative dose at the interventional reference point (IRP), body weight, chest thickness, and height were analyzed. The maximum ESD was 80 ± 59 (mean ± standard deviation) mGy. Maximum ESD closely correlated with both DAP (r = 0.78) and cumulative dose at the IRP (r = 0.82). Maximum ESD for coiling and ballooning tended to be higher than that for ablation, balloon atrial septostomy, and diagnostic procedures. In conclusion, we directly measured ESD using RPLD chips and found that maximum ESD could be estimated in real-time using angiographic parameters, such as DAP and cumulative dose at the IRP. Children requiring repeated catheterizations would be exposed to high radiation levels throughout their lives, although treatment influences radiation dose. Therefore, the radiation dose associated with individual cardiac catheterizations should be analyzed, and the effects of radiation throughout the lives of such patients should be followed.

Dependence of the Glass Badge response on the different calibration phantoms

Chiyoda Technol Corporation provides a glass badge including the GD-450 for photon dosimetry and the WNP composed of a poly-allyldiglycol carbonate, the CR39, for neutron dosimetry. For maintenance of quality on monitoring service, it is very important to establish the dose estimation formula for a calibration phantom. In this study, we evaluated the GD-450 response for photon energy range from 10 keV to 1250 keV and the WNP response for neutron energy range from thermal to 15 MeV, both by experiment and Monte Carlo calculation. The dependence of the Glass Badge response was clarified on three different calibration phantoms.

OPTIMIZATION OF A RADIOPHOTOLUMINESCENT GLASS DOSEMETER FOR OCCUPATIONAL EYE LENS DOSIMETRY IN INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY/CARDIOLOGY

&NA; Hospital based workers that perform interventional radiology are at risk of reaching the eye lens dose limit of 20 mSv/y. These workers are exposed to the radiation scattered by the patient, which creates a complex field, with low radiation energy reaching the eyes of the medical staff from wide angles. Therefore, the dosemeter used in the assessment of the eye lens dose of interventional radiologists needs to respond accurately in such conditions. In this study, the angular response of a commercially available radiophotoluminescent glass dosemeter, GD‐352M, was optimized via Monte Carlo simulations, aiming at its use as eye lens dosemeter in interventional radiology. The improved dosemeter was manufactured and then characterized in terms of Hp(3), the quantity recommended for eye lens dosimetry. Its response was compared to the IEC 62387:2012 requirements for Hp(3) and to requirements proposed specifically for eye lens dosemeters used in interventional radiology. The improved dosemeter meets the IEC 62387:2012 requirements for energy and angular response for Hp(3) and also shows good agreement with the more strict requisites proposed for eye lens dosemeters to be used in interventional radiology.

Estimation of Maximum Entrance Skin Dose during Cerebral Angiography

Using radio-photoluminescence glass dosimeter, we measured the entrance skin dose (ESD) in 46 cases and analyzed the correlations between maximum ESD and angiographic parameters [total fluoroscopic time (TFT); number of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) frames, air kerma at the interventional reference point (AK), and dose-area product (DAP)] to estimate the maximum ESD in real time. Mean (± standard deviation) maximum ESD, dose of the right lens, and dose of the left lens were 431.2 ± 135.8 mGy, 33.6 ± 15.5 mGy, and 58.5 ± 35.0 mGy, respectively. Correlation coefficients (r) between maximum ESD and TFT, number of DSA frames, AK, and DAP were r=0.379 (P<0.01), r=0.702 (P<0.001), r=0.825 (P<0.001), and r=0.709 (P<0.001), respectively. AK was identified as the most useful parameter for real-time prediction of maximum ESD. This study should contribute to the development of new diagnostic reference levels in our country.