Review of patient dosimetry in cardiology.

The objective of the study is to review doses to patients undergoing interventional cardiology procedures, doses that are known to be substantial due to prolonged fluoroscopy time and multiple radiographic exposures. High doses together with the fact that the use of radiation in cardiology is increasing, makes the assessment of patient dose and the establishment of reference dose levels necessary. Thus MED 97 can be better implemented in all EU member countries. The literature review has shown that data is limited and difficult to compare due to various dose indicators, different physical parameters of X ray equipment, various examination protocols and variations in patients' size and complexity of case. For these reasons, European countries participating in DIMOND II submitted data for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary angiography. Reference dose levels were defined in terms of dose-area product, fluoroscopic time and number of frames.