Effects of radiologists' skill and experience on patient doses in interventional examinations

Abstract

In this study, effects of radiologists' skill and experience on patient doses were investigated. Dose-area product and entrance surface doses of two groups of patients, one examined by a number of junior radiologists and another one by a senior radiologist, have been compared for the diagnostic interventional examinations of cerebral and lower limbs. Collimation of the X-ray beam and shortening the fluoroscopy times by the senior radiologist considerably reduced the patient doses for interventional cerebral examinations.

Reference Levels for Patient Radiation Doses in Interventional Radiology: Proposed Initial Values for U.S. Practice

“…First, all dose data were collected from academic medical centers in relatively large metropolitan areas. The doses might be higher than those collected from cases of procedures performed at nonacademic sites or institutions in areas of smaller population, because the cases of procedures performed at academic referral centers may be more complex and because less-experienced operators (trainees) tend to use more time and radiation to perform procedures than do experienced interventional radiologists (17,47). Doses might also be too low, because the staff interventional radiologists who performed these procedures were highly trained and experienced individuals who knew that the radiation doses for these procedures were being recorded (48).…”

Radiation Exposure in Nonvascular Fluoroscopy-Guided Interventional Procedures

“…Restricting high-quality frames might allow for some more fluoroscopy time during the intervention for beginners. This should be helpful because the lack of routine and speed are the main reasons why other studies proved that less-experienced operators need to use more radiation during the same procedures [17,25,26]. Overall, a decrease of radiographic frames will be favorable for both, experienced investigators and beginners [16].…”

Clinical Radiation Management for Fluoroscopically Guided Interventional Procedures

“…Equipment management.-Operator knowledge and experience are important factors in optimizing dose ( 58 ). Dose optimization requires attention to several basic principles.…”