Dosemeter readings and effective dose to the cardiologist with protective clothing in a simulated interventional procedure

A personal dosemeter issued for individual monitoring is calibrated in terms of personal dose equivalent, usually HP(10). In general it yields a reasonable estimate of effective dose (E) when the exposed person does not wear protective clothing. In interventional cardiology, however, a lead equivalent apron is worn and often a thyroid collar. A correction factor will then be necessary to convert a dosemeter reading to E. To explore this factor an interventional cardiology procedure is simulated based on exposure conditions typical for a modern hospital in the BENELUX area. The dose to the cardiologist is investigated using Monte Carlo simulation of radiation transport. It is concluded that a personal dosemeter may best be worn outside the apron at a central position high on the chest for least dependence on the beam direction. It will overestimate E by roughly a factor of 20 (apron and thyroid collar of 0.25 mm Pb).