Dose estimation in the patient and in the medical team in liver chemoembolization procedures

Among interventional procedures, hepatic chemoembolization has been recognized as a complex procedure where high radiation doses to patients and medical staff are delivered. In some cases the patient has to endure several sessions to treat the same lesion, which increases even more the probability of skin injuries or stochastic effects. In Brazil, chemoembolization is widely used; however few dosimetric studies have been done so far. This study presents dosimetric results for medical staff and patients based on 109 hepatic chemoembolization procedures conducted in six hemodynamic departments in Recife, Pernambuco. The procedures were performed using digital angiography equipment from different manufacturers, using different technologies. Patient dosimetry comprised the measurement of the maximum skin dose (MSD), air kerma-area product (PKA) and reference air kerma (Ka,r). The MSD was measured using radiochromic films of type Gafchromic XR RV3. To assess the risk of stochastic effects, organ absorbed doses were calculated by Monte Carlo simulations using female and male anthropometric phantoms of the FASH and MASH series. MSDs between 180 and 5650 mGy were found based on the radiochromic film measurements. 40% of the patients monitored with radiochromic films received MSDs above the 2 Gy threshold for transient skin erythema. The findings of this study showed that the Ka,r can be used for risk estimates of tissue reactions in patients undergoing chemoembolization procedures. The Monte Carlo simulations showed that patients may receive organ doses between 500 mGy and 1 Gy. Occupational dosimetry was performed using thermoluminescent dosimeters and personal electronic devices distributed over various regions of the physician's body. The results showed that the main operator could reach the annual limit of 20 mSv for the equivalent dose in the lens of the eyes with just one procedure per week if the radiation shields such as the ceiling suspended screen and goggles are not used. The highest values of personal dose equivalent Hp(d), measured in the body of the main operator was 5135.3 μSv in the left foot. Lack of table curtains explains the registered high values. Mean effective doses for the main operator, the auxiliary physician and the anesthesiologist in one of the institutions were 13 μSv, 6.1 μSv e 13.7 μSv, respectively. These results show that occupational doses received by the anesthesiologist in chemoembolization procedures may be higher than those received by the main operator. The results of the occupational dosimetry using electronic dosimeters showed that these devices can be used in a complementary way to estimate the occupational eye lens doses in hepatic chemoembolization procedures. High variability of radiation doses to patients and medical staff was observed among the six medical institutions, mainly because of the performance of X-ray equipment, complexity of the procedures, physical characteristics of the patients and the physician´s experience. (author)