Efficiency of radiation protection equipment in interventional radiology: a systematic Monte Carlo study of eye lens and whole body doses

Monte Carlo calculations were used to investigate the efficiency of radiation protection equipment in reducing eye and whole body doses during fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures. Eye lens doses were determined considering different models of lead glasses and ceiling-suspended shields. For all simulations, a broad spectrum of configurations typical for most interventional procedures was considered. Calculations showed that “wrap around” glasses are the most efficient eyewear models reducing, on average, the dose by 74% and 21% for the left and right eye respectively. The air gap between the glasses and the eyes was found to be the primary source of scattered radiation reaching the eyes. The ceiling suspended screens were more efficient when positioned close to the patient’s skin and to the x-ray field. Finally, simulations proved that beam quality and lead thickness have little influence on eye dose while beam projection, the position and head orientation of the operator as well as the distance between the image detector and the patient are key parameters affecting eye and whole body doses.