An Approach to Establishing Diagnostic Reference Levels in Interventional Pediatric Cardiology from Different Regions of Brazil.

Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) are a pivotal strategy to be implemented since pediatric interventional cardiology procedures are increasing. This work aimed to propose an initial set of Brazilian DRLs for pediatric interventional diagnostic and therapeutic (D&T) procedures. A retrospective study was carried out in four Brazilian states, distributed across the three regions of the country.

Development of ring radiation dosemeters using 3D printing.

Extremity radiation monitoring is an important tool for the assessment of occupational exposures to staff at a variety of workplaces where ionising radiation is used. This work shows the feasibility of applying 3D printing for the development of customisable ring dosemeters. The rings were developed using two types of resin, hard and flexible and has the possibility of sterilisation using different techniques.

Cardiologist's exposure to radiation in cath lab measured with Instadosedosimeter.

Introduction: complex fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures in cardiology are known to result in higher radiation doses for patients and staff.

Purpose: to estimate the equivalent dose received in different regions of the cardiologist's body in catheterism (CATH) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of monitoring the doses in the catheritization laboratory (cath lab) using a direct ion storage dosimeter.

Materials And Methods: the Instadoseand the thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD-100) were fixed simultaneously in the following regions of the cardiologist's body: near the eyes (left and right), the trunk region (over the lead apron) and the left ankle.

CHEST CT USAGE IN COVID-19 PNEUMONIA: MULTICENTER STUDY ON RADIATION DOSES AND DIAGNOSTIC QUALITY IN BRAZIL.

We assessed variations in chest CT usage, radiation dose and image quality in COVID-19 pneumonia. Our study included all chest CT exams performed in 533 patients from 6 healthcare sites from Brazil. We recorded patients' age, gender and body weight and the information number of CT exams per patient, scan parameters and radiation doses (volume CT dose index-CTDIvol and dose length product-DLP).

PRACTICAL CHALLENGES WITH IMAGING COVID-19 IN BRAZIL: MITIGATION IN AND BEYOND THE PANDEMIC.

Unlabelled: Computed tomography (CT) provides useful information in patients with known or suspected COVID-19 infection. However, there are substantial variations and challenges in scanner technologies and scan practices that have negative effect on the image quality and can increase radiation dose associated with CT.

Objective: In this article, we present major issues and challenges with use of CT at five Brazilian CT facilities for imaging patients with known or suspected COVID-19 infection and offer specific mitigating strategies.

An overview of acquisition parameters, dose measurements and organ doses in abdominal CT scans in Brazil.

The aim of this multi-centre study was to evaluate the irradiation parameters and the radiation dose of abdomen CT exams without contrast, performed in adults In Brazil, in order to provide an overview of the CT installed base in the country and contribute for the establishment of optimization programs. Equipment of seven different models, with 16 and 64 channels, installed in 17 Brazilian states, plus the Federal District, were analyzed. The results show that the mean CTDIvol ranged from 6.

Estimating brain radiation dose to the main operator in interventional radiology.

The aim of this study was to estimate brain radiation dose to the main operator during interventional radiology procedures. Occupational brain doses from 19 interventional procedures were measured using thermoluminiscent dosimeters and an anthropomorphic RANDO woman phantom simulating a main operator. Results show that, interventional radiologists may receive minimum and maximum brain doses per procedure of 0.

Image evaluation and breast density categories as a function of mammary positioning in full-field digital mammography.

Background: Appropriate mammary positioning is an important factor in optimizing image quality in mammography (MMG).

Purpose: To study the correlation of quality criteria and breast density classification proposed by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and European Guidelines and its influence to achieve a proper positioning, therefore an adequate MMG.

Material And Methods: A total of 128 routine MMG examinations were reviewed for the definition of breast composition parenchyma and assessment of several quality criteria proposed by the ACR and European Guidelines to achieve an adequate MMG.

Radiation Exposure of Patients and Interventional Radiologists during Prostatic Artery Embolization: A Prospective Single-Operator Study.

Purpose: To prospectively analyze the radiation exposure of patients and interventional radiologists during prostatic artery embolization (PAE).

Materials And Methods: Twenty-five consecutive PAE procedures performed with an Artis zee system in a single center by an interventional radiologist were prospectively monitored. The mean age, weight, and prostate volume of the patients were 65.

PiN photodiode performance comparison for dosimetry in radiology applications.

Performance comparison of selected photodiodes for usage as radiation detectors for radio-protection is presented. In this study, based on the criteria of minimum sensitive area of 5mm, minimum half angle 60° and low cost, four commercial photodiodes are selected for evaluation: SFH205, SFH206, BPW34, and BPX90F. Photodiodes are low cost, small volume and lightweight detectors.

Dosimetric evaluation of X-ray examinations of paranasal sinuses in pediatric patients.

Objective: To estimate the entrance surface air kerma (Ka,e) and air kerma in the region of radiosensitive organs in radiographs of pediatric paranasal sinuses.

Materials And Methods: Patient data and irradiation parameters were collected in examinations of the paranasal sinuses in children from 0 to 15 years of age at two children's hospitals in the city of Recife, PE, Brazil. We estimated the Ka,e using the X-ray tube outputs and selected parameters.

Dosimetric study of mandible examinations performed with three cone-beam computed tomography scanners.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the air kerma-area product (PKA) and the skin absorbed dose in the region of the eyes, salivary glands and thyroid of the patient from mandible examinations performed with three cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanners, i.e. i-CAT classic, Gendex CB-500 and PreXion 3D.

OSL and photo-transferred TL of quartz single crystals sensitized by high-dose of gamma-radiation and moderate heat-treatments.

This study investigates the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and the photo-transferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) signals in quartz single crystals showing a strong TL peak near 300°C after being sensitized by irradiation with 25kGy of gamma rays and heating at 400°C. Natural and sensitized samples were prepared from two crystals with different sensitivity levels in the 300°C TL region. Continuous-wave (CW) and linearly-modulated (LM) OSL signals were stimulated with blue light-emitting diodes during 40 and 1000s, respectively.

Dosimetric evaluation of dental implant planning examinations with cone-beam computed tomography.

The aim of this work was to perform a dosimetric evaluation of two cone-beam computed tomography scanners. The study was performed with two scanners: i-CAT classic and PreXion 3D. Air kerma-area product (PKA) was measured for all full-arch dental implant planning protocols.

Determination of diagnostic reference levels in general radiography in Latin America.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through the International Action Plan on Radiation Protection of Patients and the International Commission on Radiological Protection have for some time carried out important efforts to assure that in the medical applications of the ionising radiations, the optimisation of radiological protection of patients is fundamental, to such a point that the IAEA includes it directly as a requirement for these practices (in its International Basic Safety Standards for Protection against Ionising Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources (BSS)-GSR Part 1, 2011). For this reason, among the objectives of Regional Project RLA/9/057 and Regional Project RLA/9/067, the intention was to establish the dose references in conventional radiology for Latin America, for the purposes of determining whether these doses comply with the requirements of the BSS and to tend to improve practices, in order to minimise the dose received by the patients.

Archeometric studies in the Franciscan Convent of "Santo Antônio" (Recife, PE).

The purpose of this paper is to characterize the tiles placed on the walls of the Franciscan convent of "Santo Antônio" (Recife-PE) and to obtain information about the several expansions and structural reforms performed on the convent by dating the bricks. For this purpose, a portable energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was used to characterize the tiles. The dating of the bricks was performed using the Thermoluminescence (TL) technique.

Characterization of a homemade ionization chamber for radiotherapy beams.

A homemade cylindrical ionization chamber was studied for routine use in therapy beams of (60)Co and X-rays. Several characterization tests were performed: leakage current, saturation, ion collection efficiency, polarity effect, stability, stabilization time, chamber orientation and energy dependence. All results obtained were within international recommendations.

Characterization of a CT ionization chamber for radiation field mapping.

A pencil-type ionization chamber, developed at Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN), was characterized with the objective to verify the possibility of its application in radiation field mapping procedures. The characterization tests were evaluated, and the results were satisfactory. The results obtained for the X radiation field mapping with the homemade chamber were compared with those of a PTW Farmer-type chamber (TN 30011-1).

Volume computed tomography air kerma index and image quality evaluation in Brazil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the image quality of 29 computed tomography (CT) scanners in Brazil and to perform estimations of patient dose and image quality of common CT examinations at these equipment. The volume CT air kerma indexes (C(VOL)) were estimated, using normalised weighted air kerma indexes, supplied by the ImPACT group. The image quality tests were performed using the phantom and accreditation protocol from the American College of Radiology (ACR).

Assessment of dosimetric quantities for patients undergoing X-ray examinations in a large public hospital in Brazil--a preliminary study.

The introduction of routine patient dosimetry to Brazilian radiological institutions is very necessary in order to meet national and international standard requirements for radiation protection. This work presents a survey of the air kerma-area product (P(KA)), the entrance surface air kerma (K(e)) and the effective dose (E) in common radiographic examinations during the routine of a large public hospital in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Results draw attention to the use of field sizes larger than the cassette dimension, the lack of both the collimation X-ray beam and the standardisation of the exposure parameters by radiology technicians.