Radiation exposure of patients and workers during histerosalpingography

摘要

Estimating the received radiation doses in HSG is very important because the gonadal region isirradiated, the patients are relatively young and there is a high probability of pregnancy in the future. DuringHSG procedure the physician stands next the patient, also being exposed. In Brazil, there are not muchexperimental data related to patients and workers exposition in conventional or digital HSG procedures and thereis no specific diagnostic reference levels (DRL) for fluoroscopy guided examinations, due to the lack of a solidscientific base .This work presents dosimetric results from 86 HSG procedures, performed with a digital X-rayequipment, carried out in an important hospital. Patient exposures were measured in terms of kerma-area product(P_(KA)). by using ionization chamber of great area. The obtained P_(K,A) values was (706 ± 388) cGy.cm~2 (mean). Thekerma-area product is the quantity recommended for establishment of DRL in fluoroscopy. Besides PKA value,the number of images and the total time of the exam were also registered. To evaluate the doses received by theradiologist, thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLD) calibrated in personal dose equivalent, H_p(d), were employed.TLDs were attached to the forehead, both right and left hands. For hands, H_p(d) values higher than 340 ?Sv wereobtained, and for head, higher than 342??Sv. In order to optimize the exposure of patients and workers, a medicalprotocol to perform HSG procedures would be established. The fluoroscopy time and the number of imagesshould be reduced, whenever it is possible. We also suggest the use of protective lead glasses, due to high H_p(d)values measured at eye lenses. Although the limits were not exceeded, the personal dose equivalent values atupper extremities were high and the left hand sistematically received higher exposure than the right hand.