Comparing Ovarian Radiation Doses in Flat-Panel and Conventional Angiography During Uterine Artery Embolization: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: uterine artery embolization (uae) is a minimally invasive procedure performed under fluoroscopy for the treatment of uterine fibroids and accompanied by radiation exposure. objectives: to compare ovarian radiation doses during uterine artery embolization (uae) in patients using conventional digital subtraction angiography (dsa) with those using digital flat-panel technology. patients and methods: thirty women who were candidates for uae were randomly enrolled for one of the two angiographic systems. ovarian doses were calculated according to in-vitro phantom study results using entrance and exit doses and were compared between the two groups. results: the mean right entrance dose was 1586±1221 mgy in the conventional and 522.3±400.1 mgy in the flat panel group (p=0.005). these figures were 1470±1170 mgy and 456±396 mgy, respectively for the left side (p=0.006). the mean right exit dose was 18.8±12.3 for the conventional and 9.4±6.4 mgy for the flat panel group (p=0.013). these figures were 16.7±11.3 and 10.2±7.2 mgy, respectively for the left side (p=0.06). the mean right ovarian dose was 139.9±92 in the conventional and 23.6±16.2 mgy in the flat panel group (p<0.0001). these figures were 101.7±77.6 and 24.6±16.9 mgy, respectively for the left side (p=0.002). conclusion: flat panel system can significantly reduce the ovarian radiation dose during uae compared with conventional dsa.