Radiation risk and exposure of radiologists and patients during coronary angiography and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)

The exposure of radiologists and patient to radiation during coronary angiography and PTCA in Finland was studied using phantom measurements. The effective dose was calculated according to the ICRP 60 recommendations and patients' radiation risk according to the BEIR V report. An adult patient's mean surface dose was 660 mGy, corresponding to an effective dose of about 11 mSv. The average effective dose to the radiologist performing coronary angiography is about 0.05 mSv per examination. The eye dose to the radiologist who injects contrast medium manually is about 0.5 mSv per procedure, which would suggest a limit of seven procedures per week on the basis of occupational dose limits. The average risk of exposure-induced death (REID) for male patients is about 0.24% and for female patients 0.1%. The average loss of life expectancy (LLE/REID) among patients with an exposure-induced fatal cancer is about ten years. The radiation risk for male patients is underestimated by about 66% if the risk is assessed on the basis of the effective dose instead of organ doses. (Author)