Are Radiation Exposure Levels Used in Cardiology Dangerous?

Background: The number of interventional cardiology procedures performed has increased rapidly over the past years. While these procedures help physicians avoid using highly complicated invasive methods, it usually leads to high levels of exposure to ionizing radiation of both patients and cardiologist. The dose received by the cardiologist during interventional cardiology procedures is determined by a wide range of factors such as clinical problems to be treated, the interventional technique to be used, the x-ray system employed, experience of the cardiologist, the protective measures taken as well as their use during the examination.Objective: To measure the dose received by 22 cardiologists, radiology residents, radiologic technologists and nurses during interventional cardiology examinations performed in various teaching hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.Methods: The radiation dose was basically measured by thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD). Other personal dosimetry devices such as film badges and pen dosimeters were also used. According to IAEA guidelines, the dosimeter should be worn under the lead apron (at waist level) for estimating the effective dose but due to high workload in interventional radiology and since the areas of the body which are not protected by the apron receive much higher radiation doses, in this study an additional dosimeter was used over the apron (at collar level).Results: The mean±SD monthly dose recorded by dosimeters of cardiologists over the apron at collar level was 912.1±224.4 (range: 660.8–1176.4) μGy; hands received doses up to 9674.4 μGy month−1 as recorded by TLD chips.Conclusion: The annual effective dose received by interventional cardiologists who use standard lead aprons hardly reaches the occupational exposure dose limit of 20 mSv/y.