Comparison of peak skin dose and dose map obtained with real-time software and radiochromic films in patients undergoing abdominopelvic embolization.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare peak skin dose (PSD) and dose map calculated by Dose-Tracking-System® (DTS) software and measured with radiochromic films in patients undergoing abdominopelvic embolization.

Material And Methods: The PSD measured by radiochromic films (PSD) or calculated by DTS software (PSD) were compared in patients who underwent abdominopelvic embolization between September 2020 and April 2021. Concordance between PSD and PSD was computed using the Lin's concordance correlation coefficient and the clinical concordance using Bland Altman analysis. PSD values were compared using the paired Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test.

Results: A total of 40 patients were included. There were 32 men and 8 women with a mean age of 73.0 ± 14.6 (SD) years (age range: 30-92 years). Median PSD was 756 mGy (IQR: 390; 1094) and median PSD was 768 mGy (IQR: 421; 1076), resulting in a median difference of -5% (IQR: -10%; 0%) between PSD and PSD (P = 0.024). The concordance correlation between PSD and PSD was substantial in patients (0.986; 95% CI: 0.977-0.992). Bland Altman analysis showed that PSD was underestimated compared to PSD by -36 mGy (95% CI: -68--4). Visually similar dose maps were found with DTS and radiochromic films.

Conclusion: Real-time DTS software allows computing PSD with high accuracy and generating adequate dose map. PSD was slightly underestimated compared to PSD requiring the use of a correction factor for the PSD to avoid lack of follow-up for some patients.