Adverse health effects of radiation exposure to staff in cardiac catheterisation laboratories have been well documented in the literature. Examples include increased risk of cataracts as well as possible malignancies. These risks can be partly mitigated by reducing scatter radiation exposure to staff during diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures. There are currently commercially available radiation protection tools, including radioprotective caps, gloves, eyewear, thyroid collars, aprons, mounted shields, table skirts and patient drapes to protect staff from excessive radiation exposure. Furthermore, real-time dose feedback could lead to procedural changes that reduce operator dose. The objective of this review is to examine the efficacy of these tools and provide practical recommendations to reduce occupational radiation exposure with the aim of minimising long-term adverse health outcomes.
Summary Non‐accidental injuries remain a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in young children. The accurate identification of the full spectrum of injuries in children presenting with suspected abuse is essential to ensure the appropriate protective intervention is taken. The identification of occult bone fractures in this cohort is important as it raises the level of concern about the mechanism of injury and maintaining the child's safety. Radiographic imaging remains the modality of choice for skeletal assessment; however, current studies report concerns regarding the ability of radiographs to detect certain fractures in the acute stage. As such, alternative modalities for the detection of fractures have been proposed. This article reviews the current literature regarding fracture detectability and radiation dose burden of imaging modalities currently used for the assessment of occult bony injury in young children in whom non‐accidental injury is suspected.
Summary Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and visual disability worldwide. Of the known contributing factors to this condition, ionising radiation is considered the primary concern in a radiological context given the particular radiosensitivity of the lens of the eye. In light of the substantially increased application of computed tomography in brain imaging, an investigation of the relevent literature is warranted to assess thresholds, lens radiation doses and dose reduction techniques in respect to the cataractogenic risk of such examinations. The value and very existence of a lens dose threshold is debatable given different considerations of radiation dose, latency, opacity classifications and historical sample populations, though ICRP guidelines suggest a threshold of 0.5 Gy. Documented CT‐specific radiation doses to the eye following scans of the brain are highly variable between studies (2–130 mGy), primarily owing to discrepancies in scanning technique. These findings, when coupled with the relative ambiguity of known threshold values, present difficulties in assessing the overall risk of cataracts following serial CT examinations to the head. In the absence of definitive risk evaluations, a cautionary approach is advised. The implementation of gantry tilt along the supraorbital margin is recommended as standard practice on account of its highly effective radiation dose reduction outcomes. Organ‐based tube modulation and reductions in tube current may also be considered beneficial. Bismuth eye shielding is only advised where gantry tilting is unachievable, and in such cases, ensure careful adherence to appropriate shield placement and infection control measures.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.