Occupational Hazard: Radiation Exposure for the Urologist – Developing a Reference Standard
Introduction To date, there is a paucity of literature offering practicing urologists a reference for the amount of radiation exposure received while surgically managing urolithiasis. This study examines the cumulative radiation exposure of an urologist over 9 months. Materials and Methods We presen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia
2013-04-01
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| Series: | International Brazilian Journal of Urology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-55382013000200209 |
| _version_ | 1811327580075196416 |
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| author | Seth A. Cohen Sriram S. Rangarajan Tony Chen Kerrin L. Palazzi J. Scott Langford Roger L. Sur |
| author_facet | Seth A. Cohen Sriram S. Rangarajan Tony Chen Kerrin L. Palazzi J. Scott Langford Roger L. Sur |
| author_sort | Seth A. Cohen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction To date, there is a paucity of literature offering practicing urologists a reference for the amount of radiation exposure received while surgically managing urolithiasis. This study examines the cumulative radiation exposure of an urologist over 9 months. Materials and Methods We present a case series of fluoroscopic exposures of an experienced stone surgeon operating at an academic comprehensive stone center between April and December 2011. Radiation exposure measurements were determined by a thermoluminescent dosimeter worn on the outside of the surgeon's thyroid shield. Estimations of radiation exposure (mrem) per month were charted with fluoroscopy times, using scatter plots to estimate Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Results The total 9-month radiation exposure was 87 mrems for deep dose equivalent (DDE), 293 mrem for lens dose equivalent (LDE), and 282 mrem for shallow dose equivalent (SDE). Total fluoroscopy time was 252.44 minutes for 64 ureteroscopies (URSs), 29 percutaneous nephrolithtomies (PNLs), 20 cystoscopies with ureteral stent placements, 9 shock wave lithotripsies (SWLs), 9 retrograde pyelograms (RPGs), 2 endoureterotomies, and 1 ureteral balloon dilation. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients examining the association between fluoroscopy time and radiation exposure were not significant for DDE (p = 0.6, Spearman's rho = 0.2), LDE (p = 0.6, Spearman's rho = 0.2), or SDE (p = 0.6, Spearman's rho = 0.2). Conclusions Over a 9-month period, total radiation exposures were well below annual accepted limits (DDE 5000 mrem, LDE 15,000 mrem and SDE 50,000 mrem). Although fluoroscopy time did not correlate with radiation exposure, future prospective studies can account for co-variates such as patient obesity and urologist distance from radiation source. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:10:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d77bb13a2ef2409fa264768e08f5249d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1677-5538 1677-6119 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:10:23Z |
| publishDate | 2013-04-01 |
| publisher | Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Brazilian Journal of Urology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d77bb13a2ef2409fa264768e08f5249d2022-12-22T02:42:02ZengSociedade Brasileira de UrologiaInternational Brazilian Journal of Urology1677-55381677-61192013-04-0139220913Occupational Hazard: Radiation Exposure for the Urologist – Developing a Reference StandardSeth A. CohenSriram S. RangarajanTony ChenKerrin L. PalazziJ. Scott LangfordRoger L. SurIntroduction To date, there is a paucity of literature offering practicing urologists a reference for the amount of radiation exposure received while surgically managing urolithiasis. This study examines the cumulative radiation exposure of an urologist over 9 months. Materials and Methods We present a case series of fluoroscopic exposures of an experienced stone surgeon operating at an academic comprehensive stone center between April and December 2011. Radiation exposure measurements were determined by a thermoluminescent dosimeter worn on the outside of the surgeon's thyroid shield. Estimations of radiation exposure (mrem) per month were charted with fluoroscopy times, using scatter plots to estimate Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Results The total 9-month radiation exposure was 87 mrems for deep dose equivalent (DDE), 293 mrem for lens dose equivalent (LDE), and 282 mrem for shallow dose equivalent (SDE). Total fluoroscopy time was 252.44 minutes for 64 ureteroscopies (URSs), 29 percutaneous nephrolithtomies (PNLs), 20 cystoscopies with ureteral stent placements, 9 shock wave lithotripsies (SWLs), 9 retrograde pyelograms (RPGs), 2 endoureterotomies, and 1 ureteral balloon dilation. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients examining the association between fluoroscopy time and radiation exposure were not significant for DDE (p = 0.6, Spearman's rho = 0.2), LDE (p = 0.6, Spearman's rho = 0.2), or SDE (p = 0.6, Spearman's rho = 0.2). Conclusions Over a 9-month period, total radiation exposures were well below annual accepted limits (DDE 5000 mrem, LDE 15,000 mrem and SDE 50,000 mrem). Although fluoroscopy time did not correlate with radiation exposure, future prospective studies can account for co-variates such as patient obesity and urologist distance from radiation source.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-55382013000200209UrolithiasisNephrolithiasisKidney CalculiRadiation InjuriesUrologic Surgical ProceduresNeoplasms |
| spellingShingle | Seth A. Cohen Sriram S. Rangarajan Tony Chen Kerrin L. Palazzi J. Scott Langford Roger L. Sur Occupational Hazard: Radiation Exposure for the Urologist – Developing a Reference Standard International Brazilian Journal of Urology Urolithiasis Nephrolithiasis Kidney Calculi Radiation Injuries Urologic Surgical Procedures Neoplasms |
| title | Occupational Hazard: Radiation Exposure for the Urologist – Developing a Reference Standard |
| title_full | Occupational Hazard: Radiation Exposure for the Urologist – Developing a Reference Standard |
| title_fullStr | Occupational Hazard: Radiation Exposure for the Urologist – Developing a Reference Standard |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occupational Hazard: Radiation Exposure for the Urologist – Developing a Reference Standard |
| title_short | Occupational Hazard: Radiation Exposure for the Urologist – Developing a Reference Standard |
| title_sort | occupational hazard radiation exposure for the urologist a€ developing a reference standard |
| topic | Urolithiasis Nephrolithiasis Kidney Calculi Radiation Injuries Urologic Surgical Procedures Neoplasms |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-55382013000200209 |
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