RADIATION PROTECTION IN DIAGNOSTIC AND INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

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RADIATION PROTECTION INDIAGNOSTIC
ANDINTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
IAEA Training Material on Radiation Protection in
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

• Part 12.2 Shielding and X-ray room design
• Practical exercise - Inspection

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Overview / Objectives

• Subject matter Inspection of diagnostic
  radiology department
• Step by step procedure to be followed
• Interpretation of results

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Part 12.2 Shielding and X-ray room design
IAEA Training Material on Radiation Protection in
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

• Practical exercise -
• Check list inspection of diagnostic radiology
  department

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Radiology Department Features

• Physical
• Access, and access restriction
• Separation of work and public areas
• Radiation signs (trefoils, illuminated signs)
• Shielding construction and materials
• Protective equipment
• Operational
• QC program
• Local rules
• Staff qualifications and training

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Radiology Department Infrastructure

• This must include
• electrical power
• air conditioning and/or ventilation
• floor space and floor loading
• links to other critical areas e.g.. emergency

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Design Principles (1)

• For a safe radiation environment, there are
  certain principles and considerations
• separation of different functional areas helps
  control access
• public areas (waiting, change etc.)
• staff areas (offices, meeting rooms etc.)
• work areas (radiation rooms, dark rooms, labs.)

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Patient Access Corridor

• Note
• room numbers
• access to change rooms
• no access to staff areas

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Controlled Areas
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Design Principles (2)

• Restriction/control of public access to work
  areas
• work areas will normally be controlled areas,
  therefore public can only access when being
  examined or treated
• Flow of staff to/from and within work areas -
  separate from public areas

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Design Principles (3)

• Consideration of spaces adjacent to radiation
  areas, including above and below
• Storage space required (always more than
  anticipated!!)
• Lab./teaching/meeting areas

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Design Principles (4)

• Film processing/storage
• location relative to radiation areas
• chemical storage and disposal
• ventilation (glutaraldehyde fumes)
• silver recovery
• bulk film storage

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Categories of Radiology Departments

• WHO (1988) has three categories
• general radiography, general ultrasound, general
  fluoroscopy, conventional tomography
• as Level 1, plus Doppler ultrasound, mammography,
  angiography (incl. DSA), CT
• as Level 2, with more sophisticated techniques,
  plus MRI

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Radiology Room Features

• X-ray tube(s) and table
• Chest stand
• Change room(s)
• Operators console
• Darkroom and film storage
• Surrounding areas (use, occupancy)
• Shielding

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Typical Room Design
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Department Design (1)

• Larger departments, with 4 or more rooms can be
  arranged to have separated traffic flows, but
  small departments can do this by having separate
  entry for staff and patients

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Department Design (2)

• X-ray rooms
• must be large enough for the equipment (remember
  a chest stand)
• should have at least one patient change cubicle
  accessible from outside the room
• must locate the operators console where the
  primary beam will NEVER be directed towards it,
  but where the patient can be easily observed

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Fluoroscopy Room Operators Area
Note Lead glass, clear view, good lighting
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Fluoroscopy Room
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Department Design (3)

• must be able to accommodate large beds/trolleys,
  and any anaesthetic equipment likely to be used
• must locate holes in floors for cables away from
  radiation beams, or be shielded
• must have radiation warning signs on all doors
• should have radiation warning lights outside for
  fluoroscopy, angiography and CT

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C-Arm Fluoroscopy UnitNote Image
intensifier X-ray tube
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CT Room Entrance Note illuminated warning
sign sliding shielded doors radiation warning
sign
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Protective Equipment

• Basically lead vinyl materials, especially gowns
• Lead vinyl is 0.3 - 0.5 mm equivalent
• Front is more important than rear
• Can be partially open at rear (only high Pb)
• Must be tested new and every 18 months (using
  fluoroscopy)

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Radiology Work Area

• Note
• rack for lead gowns,
• and easy access to
• all work rooms for
• staff