Impact of a lead glass screen on scatter radiation to eyes and hands in interventional cardiologists

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of a transparent lead glass screen (TLGS) on scatter radiation to the eyes and the hands in interventional cardiologists and to compare the results to the recommended annual threshold values of 150 and 500 mSv, respectively. Local radiation doses to the left eye and the ring finger of the left hand of three operators (A, B, C) were assessed by thermoluminiscence dosimeters during 813 coronary angiographies (CAs), including 190 ad hoc percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) either with a TLGS placed between patient and operator [615 CAs including 138 ad hoc PCIs; dose‐area product (DAP) = 84.9 ± 71.3 Gy·cm2], or without (198 CAs including 52 PCIs; DAP = 85.7 ± 61.5 Gy·cm2). To determine the efficacy of the TLGS, average DAP‐normalized local doses were calculated. Using a TLGS, operator A, B, and C performed 259 (in 9 months), 211 (in 8 months), and 145 CAs (in 8 months) with TLGS and acquired cumulative eye lens doses of 5.5, 1.5, and 1.0 mSv corresponding to extrapolated annual doses of 7.3, 2.3, and 1.5 mSv. The cumulative finger doses were 9.6, 10.3, and 6.4 mSv, resulting in extrapolated annual doses of 12.8, 15.5, and 9.6 mSv. Compared to 139 (in 5 months), 36 (in 2 months), and 23 CAs (in 2 months) without TLGS, the use of a TLGS reduced the DAP‐normalized eye dose by a factor of 19 (with TLGS 0.153 vs. without TLGS 2.924 μSv/Gy·cm2), whereas only a weak effect on the dose to the hands was observed (with TLGS 0.504 vs. without TLGS 0.578 μSv/Gy·cm2). The consequent use of a TLGS efficiently reduces scatter radiation to the operator's eyes in daily practice, but has only minimal effects on the dose to the hands. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.