Radiation scattered throughout the room during fluoroscopy-guided interventional (FGI) procedures was quantified at different locations using nanoDot optically stimulated luminescence dosemeters. All the tube angulation imaging shows that the radiation spectrum resembled a single peak distribution. The left anterior oblique 90° shows the highest single peak distribution (28.65 mSv/h). The single peak distribution for standard anteroposterior, left anterior oblique 45° and right anterior oblique 45° imaging was 13.32, 22.99 and 17.40 mSv/h, respectively. All tube angulation shows that the position of the interventional radiologist experienced a higher radiation level compared to other staffs. The doses of radiation varied widely around the perimeter of the patient's table and changed in accordance to imaging angles during procedures. Knowledge pertaining to radiation exposure levels is integral in order to avoid adverse risks, particularly among staff.
Long exposure to radiation from fluoroscopy-guided interventions (FGIs) can be detrimental to both patients and radiologists. The effective doses received by the interventional radiology staff after performing 230 FGIs in a year were assessed by using double dosimetry and five various algorithms. The Shapiro-Wilk test revealed normally-distributed data (p < 0.01), while the significant correlation coefficients between the effective doses ranged between 0.88 and 1.00. As for the Bland-Altman analysis, both Niklason and Boetticher algorithms strongly supported the absence of statistical significance between the estimated effective doses. This portrays that the occupational doses received by the interventional radiology staff during FGIs fall within the acceptable limit regardless of the varied algorithms applied. In short, the Niklason and Boetticher algorithms appeared to be the more interchangeable ones for effective evaluation of doses. This is in view of their strong mutual correlations and excellent agreement.