ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY AND LEAD-EQUIVALENCE OF SHIELDED GARMENTS USING TWO-DIMENSIONAL X-RAY IMAGES FROM A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCANNER | JoVE Visualize

ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY AND LEAD-EQUIVALENCE OF SHIELDED GARMENTS USING TWO-DIMENSIONAL X-RAY IMAGES FROM A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCANNER

T Kairn^1,2,3,4, S K Maxwell¹, J V Trapp²

¹Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Butterfield St, Herston 4029, Qld, Australia.

Radiation Protection Dosimetry|April 6, 2021

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

A new method using computed tomography (CT) scans efficiently verifies shielded garment integrity for radiation protection. CT topograms provide reliable lead-equivalence measurements, aiding in assessing garment safety for healthcare professionals.

Area of Science:

Medical Physics
Radiological Protection
Imaging Technology

Background:

Occupational radiation protection is crucial in diagnostic and interventional radiology.
Shielded garments are essential for healthcare professionals' safety.
Current verification methods can be time-consuming and may not cover all aspects of garment integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate a novel method for verifying shielded garment integrity.
To simultaneously acquire data for lead-equivalence measurements using CT scanners.
To assess the efficacy of lead-free shielding materials in garments.

Main Methods:

Utilized two-dimensional topogram images from computed tomography (CT) scanners.
Tested the novel method against conventional superficial and orthovoltage radiotherapy beams.
Evaluated 12 shielded garments with 3 different lead-free shielding materials.

Main Results:

All garments generally met specified lead-equivalence for fluoroscopy energy ranges.
Three shielded skirts required double-layered front material for adequate protection.
CT topogram measurements correlated well with, or underestimated, kV narrow-beam results.

Conclusions:

The CT topogram method is a potentially efficient tool for assessing shielded garment shielding properties.
This method can be used for independent assessment of new garments and annual checks of existing ones.
Ensures ongoing occupational radiation safety in radiology settings.