3D Angiography, Patient Radiation Dosages -- How Do 3 Most Popular Systems Fare?

Background: Abdominal 3D imaging using the newer flat panel angiographic units has become more common, and is frequently used through angiographic procedures. It has been difficult to determine the effective radiation dose for an individual during 3D angiography and no proper methods have been used to evaluate it. Objective: To evaluate the 3 most popular units used throughout the world: the Allura by Philips, the Innova by GE, and the Axiom by Siemens. These units were tested equally to determine their conversion factor and effective dose using standardized phantoms with the Monte Carlo technique. Methods: Human-shaped phantoms were used to represent 3 different sized humans: small, 54 kg; medium, 64 kg; and large 77 kg. The units were set to do 3D imaging using their most common clinical settings used for hepatic examinations. The doses were measured directly and calculated using the Monte Carlo technique. Results: The doses in the dorsal organs (kidney and adrenal) were greater th more...