A survey of computed tomography dose to operators and patients during radiofrequency ablation

Abstract

The ability of computed tomography (CT) Fluoroscopy in giving real time images leads to the adoption of this application in assisting interventional procedures such as biopsy, percutaneous drainage, and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The radiation exposure from CT Fluoroscopy may be significant for patients and operators who are undergoing and performing this procedure. This study aims to survey the radiation dose received by operators and patients during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatments. Gafchromic film (Type XR-QA; International Specialty Products, USA) and thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD-100H; Bicron, USA) were used to measure the radiation dose received by patients and the scattered dose exposed to operators respectively. A sample of 30 liver RFA’s were monitored to determine the average dose. In all the RFA procedures, the parameters setting were set at 120 kVp, 70 mA, 5 mm slice thickness while the fluoroscopy time was in the range of 150 – 638 sec. From our survey, it was found that the radiologist received a comparatively higher dose rate at the hand followed by eyes and thyroid. The radiation dose rate for the supporting staff appears relatively uniform at all parts of the body measured.