Radiation exposure to operating room personnel during transperineal interstitial permanent prostate brachytherapy

• Published in: Brachytherapy Vol. 2; no. 2; p. 98
• Main Authors: Schwartz, David J, Davis, Brian J, Vetter, Richard J, Pisansky, Thomas M, Herman, Michael G, Wilson, Torrence M, LaJoie, Wayne N, Oberg, Ann L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 2003
• Subjects: Body Burden; Brachytherapy - statistics & numerical data; Film Dosimetry - methods; Film Dosimetry - statistics & numerical data; Fluoroscopy - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Operating Rooms - statistics & numerical data; Prostatic Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Protection - methods; Risk Assessment - methods; Whole-Body Counting - methods
• ISSN: 1538-4721
• DOI: 10.1016/S1538-4721(03)00097-7

To identify factors associated with radiation exposure (RE) to operating room personnel during transperineal interstitial permanent prostate brachytherapy (TIPPB). Between May 1998 and December 2000, 155 patients underwent TIPPB with fluoroscopic and ultrasound guidance. Data for each case included: operating room time (OT), anesthesia time (AT), fluoroscopy time (FT), number and type of seed implanted, total seed activity, and resident participation. Personnel RE per case, FT, OT, and AT decreased as case number increased. Whole body badge dose per case decreased from a mean of 0.15+/-0.01 mSv (15+/-1 mrem) in 1998 to 0.074+/-0.011 mSv (7+/-1 mrem) in 2000. Average FT per case decreased from a mean of 17:27 min (range, 10:40-28:23) in 1998 to 12:08 min (range, 6:40-31:00) in 2000. Resident participation was associated with increased FT. Mean whole body and ring badge doses for the treating radiation oncologist were 0.0076 mSv/min (0.76 mrem/min) and 0.05 mSv/min (5.26 mrem/min) of FT, respectively. FT was the predominant factor that related to RE during TIPPB. Treating radiation oncologists were exposed to less than 20 mSv per 100 cases, significantly less than other fluoroscopically guided procedures. Nonetheless, appropriate radiation exposure precautions during TIPPB should continue.