Evaluation of occupational radiation exposure of cardiologists in interventional radiography in Mashhad CATHLABs

Several studies have revealed that interventional radiography procedures performed in cardiology departments are high dose techniques. In this study, effective dose of cardiologists working in hospitals Catheterisation Laboratories (CATHLABs) in Mashhad city have been measured during Coronary Angiography (CA) and Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) procedures. In order to measure the dose per procedure and to estimate monthly effective dose of cardiologists, Electronic Personal Dosimeters (EPDs) were worn by 33 cardiologists over the apron on the collar. Mean effective dose of cardiologists per procedure was equal to 2.7 μSv (range: 0.3–14.3 μSv) for CA and 6.4 μSv (range: 1.3–27.5 μSv) for PTCA procedures. Mean monthly effective dose in cardiologists was equal to 158.3 μSv (range: 8.3–1050 μSv). According to the data obtained in this study the effective dose estimated for all cardiologists was lower than the monthly limits recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).