Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess the value of the routine use of radiochromic films in abdominopelvic embolization procedures to improve patient follow-up. METHODS: A total of 55~patients who underwent transcatheter abdominopelvic embolization were prospectively included. Six types of procedures were evaluated including hepatic chemoembolization (HCE), gonadal veins embolization (GVE), uterine elective embolization (UEE), uterine urgent embolization (UUE), abdominal elective embolization (AEE), and abdominal urgent embolization (AUE). Dosimetric indicators (DIs) such as air-kerma (AK) and kerma-area-product (KAP) were collected and peak skin dose (PSD) was measured with radiochromic films. Correlations between PSD and DIs were searched for. RESULTS: The mean (\textpmstandard deviation [SD]) PSD for the various procedures were: 1033\textpm502~mGy for HCE; 476\textpm271~mGy for GVE; 460\textpm171 mGy for UEE; 531\textpm263~mGy for UUE; 708\textpm896~mGy for AEE; 683\textpm392~mGy for AUE. Strong correlations were observed between PSD and DIs (r=0.974 for AK and r=0.925 for KAP). PSD was\textgreater2Gy in one procedure and all procedures (7/132) procedures resulted in AK\textgreater2Gy, mostly for HCE and AEE. CONCLUSION: Dosimetry using radiochromic film is only appropriate for HCE, AEE and AUE, whereas dose-mapping systems present a more suitable solution for all embolizations including those with AK that occasionally exceed 2Gy.