EFFECTIVENESS OF LEAD APRONS IN VASCULAR RADIOLOGY - RESULTS OF CLINICAL MEASUREMENTS

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of 0.5-mm-thick lead-equivalen t aprons in vascular radiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The radiation d ose to radiology personnel was measured under and over lead aprons in more than 100 patient examinations. Thermoluminescent dosimeters of hi gh and normal sensitivities (detection levels of 1 and 10 mu Gy, respe ctively) were used. Dose measurements in clinical practice were comple mented with real-time measurements of generating potential, dose-area product, and fluoroscopy time. In addition, measurements of the radiat ion attenuation of aprons were performed in simulated exposure conditi ons. The generating potential in fluoroscopy-weighted for the contribu tion to the occupational exposure-varied between about 70 and 95 kV pe r examination (average, 78 kV). RESULTS: On the basis of measurements obtained under clinical conditions in vascular radiology, attenuation factors between 70 and 280 were derived. The typical radiation attenua tion factor for 0.5-mm-thick lead-equivalent aprons was 200. CONCLUSIO N: The effectiveness of 0.5-mm-thick lead-equivalent aprons, determine d with clinical measurements, agrees with estimates based on generatin g potential. Previously published effective doses, inferred from noncl inically determined radiation transmission factors, probably overestim ate the actual dose levels.