Radiation Dose Reduction during Uterine Fibroid Embolization Using an Optimized Imaging Platform

Purpose To assess radiation dose reduction during uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) using an optimized angiographic processing and acquisition platform. Materials and Methods Radiation dose data for 70 women (mean age, 46 y; range, 34–67 y) who underwent UFE were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-one patients underwent UFE using the baseline fluoroscopic and angiographic image acquisition platform, and 49 underwent UFE after implementing an optimized imaging platform in otherwise identical angiography suites. Cumulative kerma-area product (CKAP), cumulative air kerma (CAK), total fluoroscopy time, and image exposure number were collected for each procedure. Image quality was assessed by 3 interventional radiologists blinded to the platform used for image acquisition and processing. Results Patients undergoing UFE using the new x-ray fluoroscopy platform had significantly lower CKAP and CAK indicators than patients for whom baseline settings were used. Mean CKAP decreased by 60% from 438.5 Gy · cm 2 (range, 180.3–1,081.1 Gy · cm 2 ) to 175.2 Gy · cm 2 (range, 47.1–757.0 Gy · cm 2 ; P P = .001). No degradation of image quality was identified through qualitative evaluation. Conclusions Significant reduction in patient radiation dose indicators can be achieved with use of an optimized image acquisition and processing platform.