Quality Control in Interventional Diagnostic Radiology external dosimetry - digital dosemeters

The measurements we wish to present were performed according to new dosimetric philosophy concept where radiation exposure is recognized as a private/or group hazard of each person involved in the procedure of evaluation of diagnostic radiology images/diagnosis. The important quality elements of the diagnostic radiology imaging process are: the diagnostic quality of the radiographic image, the radiation dose to the patient and the choice of the radiographic technique. This depends on the x-ray unit (tube) radiation quality, image processing quality and final, image evaluation quality. If seen during the interventional radiology procedures these elements are to be considered with a different weight as in common diagnostic. A team performing the intervention is directly occupationaly exposed and the radiologist is the person which has to fulfill the diagnostic-evaluation of diagnostic radiology images in real time. Real time means that the decisions depend just on considering the real time diagnostic image on the x-ray equipment monitor. In this paper we will show how the Quality Control measurements and the use of digital dosemeter with direct readout and memory options for external dosimetry/environmental monitoring can be used to establish the occupational dose delivered to the staff and dose delivered to the patient for the known diagnostic-interventional procedure. The private/group hazard will be discussed and methodology of introducing the measurements in radiographers daily work will be introduced.