Radiology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Published online before print July 23, 2004, 10.1148/radiol.2323031412
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
2323031412v1
232/3/701    most recent
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Perisinakis, K.
Right arrow Articles by Gourtsoyiannis, N.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Perisinakis, K.
Right arrow Articles by Gourtsoyiannis, N.
(Radiology 2004;232:701-707.)
© RSNA, 2004

Medical Physics

Patient Exposure and Associated Radiation Risks from Fluoroscopically Guided Vertebroplasty or Kyphoplasty1

Kostas Perisinakis, PhD, John Damilakis, PhD, Nicholas Theocharopoulos, MSc, George Papadokostakis, MD, Alexandros Hadjipavlou, MD and Nicholas Gourtsoyiannis, MD

1 From the Departments of Medical Physics (K.P., J.D., N.T.), Orthopaedics and Traumatology (G.P., A.H.), and Radiology (N.G.), University Hospital of Iraklion, University of Crete, Faculty of Medicine, PO Box 2208, 71003 Iraklion, Crete, Greece. Received September 2, 2003; revision requested November 20; revision received December 10; accepted January 13, 2004. Address correspondence to K.P. (e-mail: perisina@med.uoc.gr).


   ABSTRACT
TOP
 ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
PURPOSE: To derive normalized data for the estimation of effective, gonadal, and peak skin doses to patients undergoing vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty and to investigate the potential for cancer induction, genetic effects, and radiation-induced skin injury after such procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dose values normalized over dose-area product were determined for all radiosensitive organs and tissues by using a humanoid phantom and thermoluminescence dosimetry separately for anteroposterior and lateral projections. Measurements were obtained for treatments of the fifth, eighth, and 11th thoracic vertebrae and the first, third, and fifth lumbar vertebrae. Total fluoroscopy time and resultant dose-area product from each fluoroscopic exposure were monitored in 11 consecutive patients (seven women and four men) undergoing kyphoplasty. The age range of these patients was 41–78 years, and the mean age was 58 years.

RESULTS: Mean total fluoroscopy time for kyphoplasty was 10.1 minutes ± 2.2 (standard deviation). Mean effective dose to patients from kyphoplasty was 8.5–12.7 mSv, and mean gonadal dose was 0.04–16.4 mGy, depending on the level of the treated vertebra. Skin injuries after kyphoplasty are improbable if source-to-skin distance is 35 cm or more; however, such injuries may occur if the total fluoroscopy time per projection is extended and/or the source-to-skin distance is less than 35 cm during the procedure.

CONCLUSION: Patient radiation exposure and associated risks from vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty may be considerable. Data obtained in the current study may be used to establish patient effective dose, gonadal dose, and entrance skin exposure, as well as associated risks, from these fluoroscopically guided surgical treatments of spinal disorders.

© RSNA, 2004

Index terms: Dosimetry • Experimental study • Fluoroscopy, 32.1267 • Radiations, injurious effects • Phantoms • Spine, surgery


   INTRODUCTION
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty have been recently introduced to decrease pain and improve function in fractured vertebrae (1,2). Osteoporotic vertebral collapse, osteolytic metastatic myeloma, and painful or aggressive hemangioma are the principal indications for vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty (3–5). Simultaneous fluoroscopic observation with anteroposterior and lateral projections is preferably used during such procedures to control the needle progression and cement injection into the vertebra (6). Kyphoplasty involves the additional insertion of an inflatable bone tamp into the vertebral body during fluoroscopic guidance, prior to cement injection. In general, vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are complex and operating physician–dependent procedures. Prolonged fluoroscopic exposures may be required during such treatments and may result in a substantial radiation dose to treated patients. In recent years, because of the increasing number of procedures performed and the lengthy exposures involved, there has been a growing concern regarding the detrimental effects of radiation to patients during fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures (7–10).

Patient radiation doses that result from exposures during routine medical imaging are generally insufficient for induction of the lowest-threshold deterministic effect (ie, skin erythema). Nevertheless, radiation-induced patient skin injuries have been reported to result from extended fluoroscopic exposures (11–14). Given that the onset of such injuries is usually delayed up to 2 weeks, the operating physician cannot be alerted to prevent the damage by observing the patient during treatment. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health (15,16) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (17) have proposed several measures for the avoidance of radiation-induced skin injuries in patients undergoing fluoroscopically guided medical procedures. In addition, very large patient doses associated with high-exposure interventional procedures can lead to an increased risk of delayed effects such as cancer induction, as well as to hereditary effects. The potential for radiation-related cancer induction increases with patient effective dose, whereas the potential for hereditary effects depends on the radiation dose absorbed by the gonads (18). In addition, the risk for stochastic effects depends on the age of the irradiated patient; younger patients have much higher risks (19,20). Although vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are usually performed in elderly patients, individuals of childbearing age may well be candidates for these treatments (1). Therefore, apart from the radiation-related risk for skin injury, the risk for stochastic effects resulting from the fluoroscopic exposure in such procedures also should be investigated. To our knowledge, no data have been published previously about patient exposure and radiation risks associated with fluoroscopically guided vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.

The purpose of our study was to derive normalized data for the estimation of effective, gonadal, and peak skin doses to patients undergoing vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty and to investigate the potential for cancer induction, genetic effects, and radiation-induced skin injury after such procedures.


   MATERIALS AND METHODS
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are typically performed during fluoroscopic observation with relatively straight anteroposterior and lateral projections, although 5°–10° angulation is often required (21). The patient effective dose from fluoroscopy during vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty is the sum of the doses from exposures in the anteroposterior and lateral projections.

Phantom Exposures and Measurements
The dose absorbed by each radiosensitive organ from fluoroscopic exposures during vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty was measured by using a humanoid phantom (RANDO; Alderson Research, Stanford, Calif) and thermoluminescence dosimetry. The phantom mimics the trunk of an individual 1.75 m in height and 73.5 kg in weight. The internal structure of the phantom comprises synthetic human skeleton, lung and soft tissue, and air cavities appropriately sculptured to simulate the esophagus, trachea, and stem bronchi. The thorax is constructed to represent neutral respiratory volume, with the left lung smaller than the right to allow for the heart. Five hundred twenty thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) chips with dimensions of 3.0 x 3.0 x 0.9 mm were appropriately placed by one of the authors (N.T.) in special TLD holders introduced into holes in each phantom section, to determine the dose to each radiosensitive organ. Entrance skin dose was estimated for each projection by using an array of five rows of TLD chips, with five chips in each row, separated by 2 cm. The phantom was positioned prone on the radiolucent table. Anteroposterior projections were obtained with the x-ray tube positioned under the table, and lateral projections were obtained with the x-ray tube on the right side of the phantom. Dosimetric data were obtained separately for the anteroposterior and lateral fluoroscopic projections. Separate data were obtained for the fluoroscopic projections centered on phantom sections 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, and 27, which correspond to the fifth thoracic (T5), eighth thoracic (T8), 11th thoracic (T11), first lumbar (L1), third lumbar (L3), and fifth lumbar (L5) vertebrae, respectively. The equivalence of the phantom sections to the levels of the patient body trunk defined by the vertebrae was based on previously published data and an atlas of sectional anatomy (22,23). Dosimetric data were obtained for a 10° angled anteroposterior projection centered on L1 to investigate the influence of angulation on the measured effective and gonadal doses. Similarly, dosimetric data were obtained also for a lateral projection centered on L1 with the x-ray tube positioned on the left side of the phantom to evaluate the difference in effective and gonadal doses between right and left lateral projections. The fluoroscopy time for each phantom exposure was 30 minutes to achieve sufficient TLD readout. The experimental error related to the uncertainty introduced by the use of TLD chips to determine organ doses has been estimated to be less than 15% (22). The operating tube voltage, tube current, x-ray source-to-skin distance (SSD), and resultant dose-area product (DAP) for each phantom exposure were recorded by one of three authors (K.P., J.D., N.T.).

Phantom exposures were performed by using a mobile C-arm fluoroscopy unit (Siremobil; Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) with last-image-hold capability. Image intensifier magnification mode was not used. The focus–to–image intensifier distance was 90 cm and the minimum SSD allowed was 20 cm. Automatic brightness control was used, and DAP was monitored with a dose-area meter permanently fixed on the x-ray unit. The half-value layer of the x-ray beam was measured to be 4.0 mm aluminum at 80 kV, corresponding to a total filtration of 4.6 mm aluminum. The x-ray tube output of the fluoroscopic unit at 58 cm from the tube, with the operating table positioned between the x-ray focus and the output meter, was measured at 70 kVp and 1.1 mA, 80 kVp and 1.6 mA, and 90 kVp and 2.1 mA to be 3.9, 7.8, and 13.6 mGy/min, respectively. The x-ray tube output also was measured without the interposition of the operating table between the x-ray focus and the output meter at 70 kVp and 1.1 mA, 80 kVp and 1.5 mA, and 90 kVp and 2.0 mA to be 6.3, 11.5, and 19.3 mGy/min, respectively.

Patient Study
The total DAP, duration of fluoroscopy, and parameters for anteroposterior and lateral fluoroscopic projections were recorded in 11 consecutive patients (seven women and four men) who underwent kyphoplasty from January 2003 to April 2003. The study was approved by the local ethics committee, and all patients gave informed consent. The age range of these patients was 41–78 years, and the mean age was 58 years. Treated vertebrae ranged from T10 to L5. An inflatable bone tamp (KyphX Xpander; Kyphon, Zaventem, Belgium) was percutaneously introduced into the vertebral body during fluoroscopic guidance (Fig 1). The bone tamp was inflated to improve vertebral height and correct kyphotic deformity. After inflation, the tamp was deflated and removed, and the cavity thus created was filled with polymethylmethacrylate cement, which was introduced with low pressure.



View larger version (123K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
  		Figure 1. Lateral projections obtained during flurosocopically guided kyphoplasty show, A, biopsy needle through which a guide pin has been inserted into the fractured vertebra; B, cannula inserted over the guide pin after removal of the biopsy needle; C, inflatable bone tamp inserted into the deformed vertebra after removal of the guide pin; D, inflated balloon; E, void created by balloon inflation (arrow); and, F, void filled with polymethylmethacrylate cement after deflation and withdrawal of the balloon.

 
Estimation of Organ and Tissue Doses and Patient Effective Dose
The dose D absorbed by the radiosensitive organ or tissue T (ie, gonads, red bone marrow, colon, lung, stomach, bladder, breast, liver, esophagus, thyroid, skin, bone, or other tissue) from fluoroscopic projection p was estimated by using the following equation:

{r04se14e01}
where dTpj is the average dose monitored with TLD chips placed in the region of organ or tissue T of phantom section j from the fluoroscopic projection p, and fTj is the fraction of tissue T in section j. The values of fTj for all tissues and phantom sections were obtained from a previous publication (22). The factor for conversion from DAP to patient effective dose for projection p was calculated by using the following formula:

{r04se14e02}
where p is either anteroposterior or lateral, wT is the tissue weighting factor obtained from the International Commission on Radiological Protection (18), DTp is the absorbed organ or tissue dose given by Equation (1), and DAPp is the total dose-area product along projection p during the phantom exposure.

The total effective dose (Etot) to a patient undergoing fluoroscopically guided surgical treatment of a spinal disorder may be determined from:

{r04se14e03}
where EAP and EL are the patient effective doses for anteroposterior and lateral projections, respectively; {epsilon}AP and {epsilon}L are the factors for conversion from DAP to effective dose for anteroposterior and lateral fluoroscopic projections, respectively; and DAPAP and DAPL are the total DAP values for anteroposterior and lateral projections, respectively.

Similarly, patient gonadal dose (GDtot) may be estimated by using the following equation:

{r04se14e04}
where gdAP and gdL are the DAP–to–gonadal-dose conversion factors for anteroposterior and lateral fluoroscopic projections, respectively, and DAPAP and DAPL are defined as in Equation (3).

The entrance skin doses normalized to fluoroscopy time for anteroposterior and lateral projections (esdp) were estimated from phantom exposures. For patients undergoing fluoroscopically guided kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty, the entrance skin dose for the anteroposterior or lateral projection (ESDp) may be estimated by using the following equation:

{r04se14e05}
where t is the total fluoroscopy time recorded during patient treatment along projection p, which is either anteroposterior or lateral; {r04se14e06} and {r04se14e07} are the source-to-skin distances for projection p recorded during patient and phantom exposure, respectively; and {r04se14e08} and {r04se14e09} are the output of the x-ray tube at the same distance from the focus and at the operating parameters used during patient and phantom exposures, respectively.

Risks for Radiation-induced Effects
The skin dose threshold for the induction of skin erythema (ie, the lowest-threshold deterministic effect) has been reported to be 2 Gy (24). For each fluoroscopic projection, the minimum exposure duration required for the induction of erythema was estimated by dividing the threshold value by the skin dose rate measured during the phantom study.

The risk for hereditary effects associated with fluoroscopy was estimated by multiplying the procedure-related dose to gonads (in milligrays) by the hereditary effect risk factor of 0.01 Sv–1, as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The risk for fatal cancer induction associated with a typical procedure was estimated by multiplying the effective dose resulting from the procedure by previously published age- and sex-related risk coefficients (19,20).


   RESULTS
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
The mean values for tube voltage, tube current, and SSD were similar to the corresponding values of operating parameters used during phantom exposures (Tables 1, 2). Kyphoplasty at our institution typically involves the acquisition of a 4.7-minute anteroposterior projection and a 5.4-minute lateral projection, resulting in DAP values of 2294 cGy · cm2 and 1304 cGy · cm2, respectively (Table 1).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		TABLE 1. Parameters of Patient Fluoroscopic Exposures during Kyphoplasty

 

View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		TABLE 2. Parameters of Fluoroscopic Exposures in Selected Phantom Sections

 
The DAP-normalized organ dose values for both fluoroscopic projections strongly depend on the level of the treated vertebra (Table 3). Entrance skin dose values normalized over total fluoroscopy time for lateral fluoroscopic projection are much higher than the corresponding values for anteroposterior projection (Table 3). Normalized effective dose and gonadal dose values strongly depend on the level of the treated vertebra (Figs 2, 3). For the same resultant DAP, the higher effective dose is associated with treatments of the first lumbar vertebra, whereas the higher gonadal dose is associated with treatments of the fifth lumbar vertebra. The difference in DAP-normalized effective dose values between straight and 10° angled anteroposterior projections centered on L1 was less than 5%, and the corresponding difference between right and left lateral fluoroscopic projections was less than 7%.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		TABLE 3. Organ Dose and Effective Dose Normalized for Fluoroscopic Projections Centered on Different Vertebrae

 


View larger version (22K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
  		Figure 2. Bar graph shows conversion factors for conversion from DAP to patient effective dose for anteroposterior (AP) and lateral (L) fluoroscopic projections. The factor varies, depending on the level of the treated vertebra, and treatment of L1 results in a higher effective dose than does treatment centered on any other vertebra.

 


View larger version (22K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
  		Figure 3. Bar graphs show conversion factors for conversion from DAP to gonadal dose for anteroposterior (AP) and lateral (L) fluoroscopic projections in, A, male and, B, female patients. The conversion factor depends on the treated vertebra and patient sex; gonadal dose is much higher for women than for men, for all treated vertebrae.

 
The risk for radiation-related fatal cancer associated with kyphoplasty depends on patient age and sex (Fig 4). Patients 20–29 years old have a risk more than twice that of patients 60–69 years old for radiation-induced fatal cancer. Female patients younger than 39 years have a much higher associated risk than do male patients of the same age. In contrast, men older than 40 years are subjected to a slightly higher risk than are women of the same age. The age- and sex-averaged patient effective dose and gonadal dose values corresponding to kyphoplasty of L1 were 12.7 mSv and 0.5 mGy, respectively; the corresponding radiation-related risks for U.S. and U.K. populations were estimated to be 1000 (U.S.) and 741 (U.K.) fatal cancers and 5.4 (both U.S. and U.K.) hereditary defects per million treated patients (Table 4). The minimum fluoroscopic screening time required for the induction of a skin effect depends on SSD during exposure (Table 5).



View larger version (25K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
  		Figure 4. Bar graph shows fatal cancer risks for female (white bars) and male (black bars) patients who underwent fluoroscopically guided kyphoplasty of L1 at the authors’ institution, according to patient age at kyphoplasty. Data were estimated by using U.S. population-derived age- and sex-related radiation risk coefficients (19). Patients younger than 30 years who underwent the procedure had a much higher associated risk for radiation-induced fatal cancer, compared with patients older than 30 years.

 

View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		TABLE 4. Maximum Effective and Gonadal Doses and Associated Risks from Fluoroscopically Guided Kyphoplasty

 

View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		TABLE 5. Fluoroscopic Exposure Duration Required for the Induction of Deterministic Effects after Kyphoplasty

 

   DISCUSSION
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
REFERENCES
 
In our study, dosimetric data obtained for fluoroscopic exposures centered on six different vertebrae (ie, T5, T8, T11, L1, L3, and L5) representative of the most frequently treated regions of the spinal column show that the factors for conversion from DAP to effective dose differ by as much as 60%, according to the different levels of vertebrae treated. The maximum DAP–to–effective-dose conversion factors, for both anteroposterior and lateral fluoroscopic projections, correspond to treatments of L1. Consequently, treatments of L1 were associated with higher patient effective dose than were treatments of any other vertebra. This fact may be attributed to the primary irradiation of radiosensitive abdominal organs such as the stomach, liver, and colon during treatments of L1. Gonadal dose, as expected, was higher for treatments of vertebrae below L1, because the distance of gonadal tissue from the edge of the fluoroscopic field decreases as the level of the treated lumbar vertebra approaches that of L5.

The mean total fluoroscopy time for kyphoplasty procedures performed at our institution was 10.1 minutes (4.7 minutes for the anteroposterior projection and 5.4 minutes for the lateral projection). Depending on the treated region, the patient effective dose from an average kyphoplasty procedure was 8.5–12.7 mSv, and the entrance skin exposure was 173–233 mGy. These values are much higher than the patient effective doses from common radiologic examinations such as abdominal (0.16 mSv), chest (0.03 mSv), and skull (0.008 mSv) radiography (25), but they are comparable with the effective doses from other common high-exposure interventional fluoroscopic procedures, such as radiofrequency catheter cardiac ablation (5.7 mSv) (10), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (12.4 mSv) (26), and enteroclysis (14.0 mSv) (27).

Reporting of patient effective dose or entrance skin exposure from an average kyphoplasty procedure at a certain institution is of limited value, given the great variability of equipment used and techniques followed at different institutions. Normalized dosimetric data should be available that take into account the different fluoroscopy times, characteristics of equipment, and other fluoroscopic parameters involved. In the present study, dosimetric data normalized to DAP were obtained separately for the anteroposterior and lateral projections commonly obtained during vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, and for six different spinal regions treated, by using a phantom. The degree of uncertainty introduced into the normalized data as a result of the standard phantom dimensions may be considered minor compared with that introduced by the use of TLD chips. The DAP depends on fluoroscopy time and equipment characteristics such as output, filtration, and image-intensifier diameter, as well as operating parameters such as kilovoltage and milliamperage. Thus, our data may be used for the estimation of effective dose to patients undergoing vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty at other institutions and with different techniques and equipment.

The age- and sex-averaged risks for fatal cancer induction and for detrimental hereditary disorders associated with fluoroscopically guided kyphoplasty are 410 x 10–6 and 10 x 10–6, respectively, whereas the spontaneous cancer risk is 200 000 x 10–6, or 20%, and the incidence of serious birth defects is 60 000 x 10–6, or 6% (28). In other words, among 1 million patients undergoing kyphoplasty requiring a 10-minute fluoroscopic exposure, 410 fatal cancers might be induced in addition to the naturally occurring 200 000. Likewise, among 1 million infants with a parent who underwent a typical kyphoplasty procedure, the expected number of infants with a defect is 60 010, in 10 of whom the defect may be attributed to radiation received by the gonads of the irradiated parent. These theoretical radiation-related risks for stochastic effects associated with a typical kyphoplasty procedure may be considered tolerable. However, stochastic risks should not be disregarded, especially when treated patients are young individuals with many years of expected life remaining and with complex spinal disorders requiring extended fluoroscopic screening.

Entrance skin dose was normalized over fluoroscopy time and not over DAP because DAP does not depend on SSD, whereas entrance skin dose strongly depends on SSD. Our data show that skin injuries might occur after kyphoplasty in large patients, in whom lengthy fluoroscopic observation with lateral projections is required. SSD of 20 cm is the minimum value allowed by our equipment or by any fluoroscope intended for specific surgical applications that meets the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration. Apart from the fluoroscopic exposure duration and patient size, the main factors that affect patient entrance skin dose are the SSD and the output of the x-ray system. SSD may be easily measured during the procedure, and the output of the x-ray unit is generally available, since it is routinely measured at various kilovoltage values during the standard periodic quality-control check. Thus, the operating physician and/or technologist may use the data from our study to establish fluoroscopy time thresholds for the induction of deleterious skin effects for the specific equipment and technique used at a particular institution.

Radiation risks associated with fluoroscopically guided kyphoplasty are not trivial. Therefore, efforts should be made toward optimization of fluoroscopic parameters during treatment, especially when the treated patients are young individuals with many decades of expected life remaining. The most effective approach for decreasing patient radiation exposure is to minimize the exposure time. Minimum patient exposure may be accomplished if vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are performed only by physicians and assisting personnel who have been trained in radiation protection. With an awareness of the major factors that affect patient radiation dose, operating physicians can deliver a low patient dose without compromising the efficacy of the procedure. Collimation should be adjusted so that the radiation field includes only the anatomic region of interest. Last image hold, automatic brightness control, and pulsed fluoroscopy mode are features of modern fluoroscopic systems that should be preferably used if available. The SSD should always be the maximum possible, and never less than 30 cm. Use of the low-dose mode, available with some dedicated fluoroscopic suites, is strongly recommended. The x-ray system should be subjected to periodic inspection for quality assurance by a qualified medical physicist. Physicians who perform fluoroscopically guided procedures should always keep in mind that minimization of patient exposure results also in minimization of the dose received by operating personnel.

In conclusion, the patient radiation burden and associated radiation risks from fluoroscopically guided vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty may be considerable. We believe that our data are useful for establishing patient effective dose, gonadal dose, and entrance skin exposure, as well as the associated risks from fluoroscopically guided surgical treatments of spinal disorders, not only at our institution but also at other institutions.


   FOOTNOTES
 
Authors stated no financial relationship to disclose.

See also the editorial by Seibert in this issue.

Abbreviations: DAP = dose-area product, SSD = source-to-skin distance, TLD = thermoluminescent dosimeter

Author contributions: Guarantor of integrity of entire study, K.P.; study concepts, K.P.; study design, K.P., J.D., N.T., G.P.; literature research, K.P., J.D., N.T.; clinical studies, G.P., A.H.; experimental studies, K.P., J.D., N.T.; data acquisition, K.P., J.D., N.T., G.P.; data analysis/interpretation, K.P., N.T.; manuscript preparation, K.P., J.D., N.T., A.H., N.G.; manuscript definition of intellectual content, K.P., A.H., N.G.; manuscript editing, K.P.; manuscript revision/review, K.P., J.D., N.T.; manuscript final version approval, K.P., J.D., A.H., N.G.


   REFERENCES
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 

  1. Gangi A, Guth S, Imbert JP, Marin H, Dietemann JL. Percutaneous vertebroplasty: indications, technique, and results. RadioGraphics 2003; 23:e10. Available at: radiographics.rsnajnls.org.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Ledlie JT, Renfro M. Balloon kyphoplasty: 1-year outcomes in vertebral body height restoration, chronic pain, and activity levels. J Neurosurg 2003; 98(suppl 1):36-42.[Medline]
  3. Hodler J, Peck D, Gilula LA. Midterm outcome after vertebroplasty: predictive value of technical and patient-related factors. Radiology 2003; 227:662-668.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  4. Fourney DR, Schomer DF, Nader R, et al. Percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty for painful vertebral body fractures in cancer patients. J Neurosurg 2003; 98 (suppl 1):21-30.
  5. Evans AJ, Jensen ME, Kip KE, et al. Vertebral compression fractures: pain reduction and improvement in functional mobility after percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate vertebroplasty—retrospective report of 245 cases. Radiology 2003; 226:366-372.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  6. Cotten A, Boutry N, Cortet B, et al. Percutaneous vertebroplasty: state of the art. RadioGraphics 1998; 18:311-320.[Abstract]
  7. Geise RA, O’Dea TJ. Radiation dose in interventional fluoroscopic procedures. Appl Radiat Isot 1999; 50:173-184.[CrossRef][Medline]
  8. Mooney RB, McKinstry CS, Kamel HA. Absorbed dose and deterministic effects to patients from interventional neuroradiology. Br J Radiol 2000; 73:745-751.[Abstract]
  9. Mahesh M. Fluoroscopy: patient radiation exposure issues. RadioGraphics 2001; 21:1033-1045.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  10. Perisinakis K, Damilakis J, Theocharopoulos N, Manios E, Vardas P, Gourtsoyiannis N. Accurate assessment of patient effective radiation dose and associated detriment risk from radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures. Circulation 2001; 104:58-62.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  11. Shope TB. Radiation skin injuries from fluoroscopy. RadioGraphics 1996; 16:1195-1199.[Abstract]
  12. Mettler FA, Koenig TR, Wagner LK, Kelsev CA. Radiation injuries after fluoroscopic procedures. Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2002; 23:428-442.[CrossRef][Medline]
  13. Koenig TR, Wolff D, Mettler FA, Wagner LK. Skin injuries from fluoroscopically guided procedures. I. Characteristics of radiation injury. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2001; 177:3-11.
  14. Miller DL, Balter S, Noonan PT, Georgia JD. Minimizing radiation-induced skin injury in interventional radiology procedures. Radiology 2002; 225:329-336.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  15. Food and Drug Administration. Public health advisory: avoidance of serious x-ray induced skin injuries to patients during fluoroscopically guided procedures Rockville, Md: Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 1994.
  16. Food and Drug Administration. Important information for physicians and other healthcare professionals: recording information in the patient’s medical record that identifies the potential for serious x-ray-induced skin injuries following fluoroscopically guided procedures Rockville, Md: Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 1995.
  17. Valentin J. Avoidance of radiation injuries from medical interventional procedures. Ann ICRP 2000; 30:7-67.
  18. 1990 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Ann ICRP 1991; 21:1-201.
  19. National Research Council. Health effects of exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation: BEIR V Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1990.
  20. National Radiological Protection Board. Estimates of radiation detriment in a UK population NRPB R260. Chilton, Didcot, England: National Radiological Protection Board, 1994.
  21. Kim AK, Jensen ME, Dion JE, Schweickert PA, Kaufmann TJ, Kallmes DF. Unilateral transpedicular percutaneous vertebroplasty: initial experience. Radiology 2002; 222:737-741.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  22. Perisinakis K, Theocharopoulos N, Karkavitsas N, Damilakis J. Patient effective radiation dose and associated risk from transmission scans using Gd-153 line sources in cardiac SPECT studies. Health Phys 2002; 83:847-853.[Medline]
  23. Bo WJ, Wolfman NT, Krueger WA, Carr JJ, Bowden RL, Meschan I. Basic atlas of sectional anatomy with correlated imaging 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders, 1998.
  24. Wagner LK. Biological effects of high x-ray doses. In: Balter S, Shope T, eds. Syllabus: a categorical course in physics. Oak Brook, Ill: Radiological Society of North America, 1995; 167-170.
  25. Theocharopoulos N, Perisinakis K, Damilakis J, Gourtsoyiannis N. Comparison of four methods for assessing patient effective dose from common radiological examinations. Med Phys 2002; 29:2070-2079.[CrossRef][Medline]
  26. Larkin CJ, Workman A, Wright RE, Tham TC. Radiation doses to patients during ERCP. Gastrointest Endosc 2001; 53:161-164.[CrossRef][Medline]
  27. Ruiz-Cruces R, Ruiz F, Perez-Martinez M, Lopez J, Tort Ausina I, de los Rios AD. Patient dose from barium procedures. Br J Radiol 2000; 73:752-761.[Abstract]
  28. Hall EJ. Hereditary effects of radiation In: Hall EJ, ed. Radiobiology for the radiologist. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott, 1994.



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Neuroradiol.Home page
A.O. Ortiz, V. Natarajan, D.R. Gregorius, and S. Pollack
Significantly Reduced Radiation Exposure to Operators during Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty Procedures: Methods and Techniques.
AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., May 1, 2006; 27(5): 989 - 994.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Bone Joint Surg BrHome page
A. G. Hadjipavlou, M. N. Tzermiadianos, P. G. Katonis, and M. Szpalski
Percutaneous vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and osteolytic tumours
J Bone Joint Surg Br, December 1, 2005; 87-B(12): 1595 - 1604.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 RadiologyHome page
D. L. Miller
Patient Radiation Dose from Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
Radiology, March 1, 2005; 234(3): 970 - 971.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 RadiologyHome page
J. A. Seibert
Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty: Do Fluoroscopy Operators Know about Radiation Dose, and Should They Want to Know?
Radiology, September 1, 2004; 232(3): 633 - 634.
[Full Text] [PDF]

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
2323031412v1
232/3/701    most recent
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Perisinakis, K.
Right arrow Articles by Gourtsoyiannis, N.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Perisinakis, K.
Right arrow Articles by Gourtsoyiannis, N.

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
RADIOLOGY RADIOGRAPHICS RSNA JOURNALS ONLINE