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Dose reference levels and clinical determinants in stroke neuroradiology interventions

  • Interventional
  • Published:
European Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To establish dose reference levels (RLs) for stroke interventions while carefully analysing the impact of clinical and technical parameters on patient exposure.

Methods

The study retrospectively analysed data from 377 stroke patients prospectively collected between 15 October 2015 and 30 March 2017 at a single, level-3 stroke centre equipped with Philips Allura Clarity systems. Local dose RLs were first derived as the 75th percentile of the dose area product (DAP), cumulative air kerma (Ka,r), fluoroscopy time (FT) and the number of images (NI). Univariate and multivariate negative binomial regressions were considered for the statistical analysis to investigate the dose variability with clinical and technical parameters such as patient’s age and sex, occlusion removal technique, number of passages, single-plane or biplane equipment, etc.

Results

Local stroke dose RLs were derived in terms of total DAP (162 Gy cm2), Ka,r (854 mGy), FT (42 min) and NI (559). Gender (relative dose multiplier (RDM) 1.31; 95% CI 1.12–1.45), number of passages (RDM 1.22 per passage; 95% CI 1.10–1.22) and procedure success (RDM 0.52, 95% CI 0.55–0.80) proved to be key parameters affecting patient dose. Meanwhile the statistical analysis did not find any difference in relative dose received by patients owing to age, baseline NIHSS score, occlusion removal technique, posterior circulation, support of an anaesthesiologist or use of biplane equipment.

Conclusions

Stroke dose RLs introduced in this work promote the optimisation of patient doses. Male gender, number of passages and success of recanalisation are independent key parameters affecting patient dose.

Key Points

• Stroke dose RLs derived in terms of total DAP (162 Gy cm 2 ), K a,r (854 mGy), FT (42 min) and NI (559) will help optimise the radiation safety of patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy.

• Male gender (relative dose multiplier 1.31; 95% CI 1.12–1.45), number of passages (RDM 1.22 per passage; 95% CI 1.10–1.22) and success of recanalisation TICI score > 2b (RDM 0.52, 95% CI 0.55–0.80) are independent key parameters affecting patient dose.

• Stent retriever or aspiration technique showed no significant difference in terms of the dose delivered to the patient; neither technique should be favoured for dosimetric reasons provided that there is no difference regarding clinical outcomes.

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Abbreviations

ALARA:

As low as reasonably achievable

CI:

Confidence interval

K a,r :

Cumulative air kerma at interventional reference point

DAP:

Dose area product

DRLs:

Diagnostic reference levels

FPCT:

Flat-panel CT

FT:

Fluoroscopy time

ICRP:

International Commission on Radiological Protection

NI:

Number of images

NIHSS:

National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale

PACS:

Picture Archiving and Communication System

RDM:

Relative dose multiplier

RLs:

Reference levels

SILC:

Stroke Interventional Laboratory Consensus

TICI:

Thrombolysis in cerebral infarction

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Funding

The authors state that this work has not received any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hopitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Hopital du Kremlin-Bicetre, 78 Rue General Leclerc, 94270, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France

    Jad Farah, Aymeric Rouchaud, Theophraste Henry, Catherine Regen, Cristian Mihalea, Jacques Moret & Laurent Spelle

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  1. Jad Farah
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  2. Aymeric Rouchaud
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  3. Theophraste Henry
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  4. Catherine Regen
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  5. Cristian Mihalea
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  7. Laurent Spelle
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jad Farah.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Pr Laurent Spelle.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare relationships with the following companies: Philips, Medtronic, Stryker, MicroVention, Balt.

Statistics and biometry

One of the authors has significant statistical expertise.

Informed consent

As a follow-up evaluation on stroke patients, informed consent was not required.

Ethical approval

As a follow-up evaluation, the study did not involve any change in the standard procedure and did not require the identification of individuals.

Methodology

• retrospective

• observational

• performed at one institution

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Farah, J., Rouchaud, A., Henry, T. et al. Dose reference levels and clinical determinants in stroke neuroradiology interventions. Eur Radiol 29, 645–653 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5593-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5593-x

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