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Purpose: To quantify operator dose in interventional CT fluoroscopy (CTF) procedures and compare to catheterization laboratory and interventional radiology procedures. Methods: Fifteen studies quantifying operator scatter dose for c‐arm fluoroscopy and CTF were reviewed from a literature survey. The dose provided in each study was normalized to skin entrance air kerma and air kerma rate including backscatter. The average air kerma rate and exposure duration were calculated and compared between c‐arm fluoroscopy and CTF. To enable operator scatter dose calculations in CTF procedures, a model was created which scaled the dose from a reference condition. Results: Our literature survey indicated that for CTF relative to c‐arm fluoroscopy: (1) the mean air kerma rate is 3.5 times higher, while (2) the mean exposure duration is 31.6 times lower. On average, a physician would have to perform 9.1 times (i.e., 31.6/3.5) more CTF procedures relative to c‐arm fluoroscopy procedure to receive equal operator scatter doses. Our own experimental measurements provided scaling factors allowing physician scatter dose to be obtained at any rotation time, tube current, beam collimation, or beam energy. Conclusion: Our results shed light onto a currently mis‐understood issue in radiology. Namely, that physicians receive more dose from CT relative to c‐arm fluoroscopy motivating them to retreat from the room during interventional exposures. Our literature review and experimental measurements indicate the opposite it true; interventional CT produces on average nine times less physician dose relative to c‐arm procedures. Our method allows for prospective/retrospective determination of an individual's dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recording radiological images obtained by fluoroscopic techniques on permanent support, digital storage, when compared with other methods, shows several interesting features, especially in order to reduce the X-ray dose and to allow for using economical hard copies. In the paper a system is described, for which it is possible to predict competitive cost in the near future; such system is based on a 512 X 512 X 6 bits digital memory, continuosly refreshed and on a software package oriented to handle radiological images. Examples of images referring to typical body segments (stomach, skull, chest) are reported.