Purpose: National diagnostic reference levels in Japan 2020 (DRLs 2020) have been published. In the field of angiography, in addition to the fluoroscopic dose rate, incident air kerma at the patient entrance reference point displayed on the equipment (Ka,r: mGy) and air kerma-area product displayed on the equipment (PKA: Gycm2) were set. A questionnaire survey was conducted at each facility in the Tokai region to confirm the status of medical radiation dose control in the region.
Method: A questionnaire survey was conducted at each facility in the Tokai region. The items were fluoroscopic dose rate in each area (head and neck, cardiac, chest and abdomen, and limbs), DA and DSA dose rates, and dose area product meter (Ka,r, PKA) for the main procedures in each area.
Result: The median values in this study were lower than those in the DRLs 2020, indicating that appropriate dose control is being implemented in the Tokai region. The trends of fluoroscopic and radiographic dose rates were different in each area, and there was some variation among the facilities.
Conclusion: We believe that the incorporation of fluoroscopic and radiographic dose rates by area into the DRLs will facilitate more appropriate dose control at each facility in the future.
Keywords: air kerma at the patient entrance reference point (Ka,r); air kerma-area product (PKA); diagnostic reference levels (DRLs); interventional procedure.