• Yoshiaki Morishima, Koichi Chida, Hiroo Chiba, and Koji Kumagai.
• Department of Radiological Technology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital, 1-12-1 Fukumuro, Miyagino-Ku, Sendai, 983-8512, Japan. morishima@med.tohoku.ac.jp.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2024 Oct 5.

BackgroundRadio frequency catheter ablation (RFCA), a treatment for arrhythmia, requires a long fluoroscopy time that increases the radiation exposure dose to the physician, particularly to the lens of the eye. It is recommended that a lens-specific dosimeter such as DOSIRIS® is used to measure the dose to the lens.AimsIn this study, we investigated whether conventional glass badges can be used as an alternative to lens dosimeters.MethodsThe doses to the lenses of two physicians (physician A, main operator; physician B, assistant; physician B was further away from the patient than physician A) were measured for 126 RFCA procedures performed over a 6-month period (fluoroscopy rate of 3.0 p/s with use of a ceiling-hanging shield).ResultsThe cumulative value measured by a lens dosimeter attached to the inside of Pb glasses (0.07-mm dose equivalent) next to the left eye was 4.7 mSv for physician A, and 0.8 mSv for physician B. The reading on the glass badge worn on the left side of the neck was 4.7 mSv for physician A and 1.3 mSv for physician B. Lens dosimeter and glass badge values showed a good correlation for the left eye and left neck (r = 0.86, p < 0.01).ConclusionsWe show that glass badges may be a viable alternative to lens-equivalent dosimetry when using low-pulse fluoroscopy and a ceiling-hanging shield.© 2024. The Author(s).

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