Measuring skin dose with radiochromic dosimetry film in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

A new radiochromic dosimetry film was tested to determine its potential for patient skin dose monitoring in a fluoroscopically intensive environment such as the cardiac catheterization laboratory. The dose, time, energy, dose fractionation, dose rate, and sheet to sheet uniformity response were tested. All tests support the conclusion that this is a simple, noninvasive, retrospective method to identify skin regions at risk from high x-ray doses. The consistency and accuracy of dose measurements allow for an estimation of the localized skin dose to those patients who are susceptible to radiation induced skin injury.