Sona N Shah1,2, Kaitlin Kogachi1,2, Zelia M Correa3, Amy C Schefler4, Mary E Aronow5, Sonia A Callejo6, Colleen M Cebulla7, Shelley Day-Ghafoori8, Jasmine H Francis9, Sara Lally10, Tara A McCannel11, Katherine E Paton12, Isabella T Phan13, Renelle Pointdujour-Lim14, Aparna Ramasubramanian15, Pamela Rath16, Carol L Shields10, Alison H Skalet17,18, Jill R Wells19, Richard L Jennelle20, Jesse L Berry1,2. 1. USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. 2. Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. 3. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. 4. Retina Consultants of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA. 5. Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Retina Service, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 6. University of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada. 7. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA. 8. Austin Retina Associates, Austin, Texas, USA. 9. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York, USA. 10. Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 11. University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. 12. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 13. Kaiser Permanente, Northern California, San Francisco, California, USA. 14. Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 15. University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. 16. Everett and Hurite Ophthalmic Association, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 17. Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. 18. Department of Radiation Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. 19. Emory Eye Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 20. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the known radiation exposure, attitudes, and consequent risk modifications among female ocular oncologists in North America who routinely administer radioactive plaque brachytherapy treatment and are members of the International Society of Ocular Oncology. METHODS: Nineteen female ocular oncologists completed an anonymous 17-question radiation exposure survey. RESULTS: Eleven of the participants chose to routinely wear lead protection during surgery; 8 did not. Fifteen of 19 participants reported using an unloaded "nonactive" template to prepare for plaque implantation. During pregnancy, 11 of 13 participants continued to perform plaque brachytherapy. Eight of these 11 undertook measures to decrease radiation exposure self-reported as lead wear and other. The average reported anxiety regarding fertility was 2.1 (SD, 2.2) on a scale from 1 to 10. CONCLUSION: This study corroborates prior literature that surgeons' exposure to radiation during plaque brachytherapy is minimal. Nonetheless, there remains some anxiety regarding exposure risk to women, due to potential effects on fertility and fetal health. We found variability in exposure monitoring, required training, and precautions during pregnancy amongst this group of surgeons. Improved education and clearer pregnancy guidelines may equip female ocular oncologists with optimal knowledge regarding risk of radiation exposure.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the known radiation exposure, attitudes, and consequent risk modifications among female ocular oncologists in North America who routinely administer radioactive plaque brachytherapy treatment and are members of the International Society of Ocular Oncology. METHODS: Nineteen female ocular oncologists completed an anonymous 17-question radiation exposure survey. RESULTS: Eleven of the participants chose to routinely wear lead protection during surgery; 8 did not. Fifteen of 19 participants reported using an unloaded "nonactive" template to prepare for plaque implantation. During pregnancy, 11 of 13 participants continued to perform plaque brachytherapy. Eight of these 11 undertook measures to decrease radiation exposure self-reported as lead wear and other. The average reported anxiety regarding fertility was 2.1 (SD, 2.2) on a scale from 1 to 10. CONCLUSION: This study corroborates prior literature that surgeons' exposure to radiation during plaque brachytherapy is minimal. Nonetheless, there remains some anxiety regarding exposure risk to women, due to potential effects on fertility and fetal health. We found variability in exposure monitoring, required training, and precautions during pregnancy amongst this group of surgeons. Improved education and clearer pregnancy guidelines may equip female ocular oncologists with optimal knowledge regarding risk of radiation exposure.
Authors: Bhupesh Parashar; A Gabriella Wernicke; Al Pavese; Prabhsimranjot Singh; Samuel Trichter; Albert Sabbas; David I Kutler; William Kuhel; Jeffery L Port; Paul C Lee; Dattatreyudu Nori; K S Clifford Chao Journal: Brachytherapy Date: 2011-06-02 Impact factor: 2.362