Radiation Safety in Biplane Fluoroscopy

George Tsoukatos, BPS, R.T.(R)(ARRT)®

^*Medical Imaging Consultant, Radiology Support Services, Germantown, NY

Address correspondence to: George Tsoukatos, BPS, R.T.(R)(ARRT)^®, Radiology Support Services, PO Box 215, Germantown, NY 12526. Email: radiologytechnique@gmail.com.

Disclosure statement: The author reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.

ABSTRACT

Fluoroscopy is designed to provide real-time images of dynamic processes occurring within the body, especially when an imaging contrast is used along with it. Since the late 1800s, fluoroscopy has been in clinical use, and it has been used for diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional procedures. Over time, fluoroscopy has grown and evolved and is currently used in numerous medical specialties, including orthopedics, pain management, neurology, gastroenterology, cardiology, and vascular specialties among many others. Radiation doses and the risk of radiation dose-related injury to both interventionalists and radiologic technologists (RTs) and patients are typically higher with interventional fluoroscopic systems that utilize 2 ionizing radiation sources, including biplane fluoroscopic systems. As a result, each clinical scenario involving biplane fluoroscopy should be carefully evaluated to justify the procedure, limit adverse effects, and utilize guidelines and protocols to prevent harm to patients and staff. A review of the most current technological features as well as safety measures and procedures can greatly benefit all radiological imaging professionals. This course will serve as a review of current fluoroscopic biplane systems, their features, technical parameters, and various components. It will also review the latest safety precautions and protocols that should be adhered to by both RTs and patients during biplane fluoroscopic imaging studies. Finally, this course will also prepare RTs and all imaging professionals working in a fluoroscopy suite on how to avoid significant dose events or accidental or unintended exposures of patients and how to recognize significant dose events and identify patients at risk for radiation-induced tissue reactions.