简介:Radiationexposureisahazardforpatientsandphysiciansduringfluoroscopically-guidedprocedures.Invasivecardiologistsareexposedtohighlevelsofscatterradiationandbothincreasingproceduralcomplexityandhigheroperatorvolumescontributetoexposureaboverecommendedthresholds.Standardshieldingdoesnotoffersufficientprotectiontotheheadandneckregionandthepotentialfornegativebiological,subclinical,andclinicaleffectsexists.Largepopulationstudiessuggestthatcranialexposuretolowdoseradiationincreasestherisksoftumordevelopment.Inaddition,modestdosesoftherapeuticcranialradiationhavebeenlinkedwiththedevelopmentofbraincancer.Althoughacausalassociationbetweenscatterradiationinthecathlabandbraincancerdoesnotcurrentlyexist,giventheknowndetrimentaleffectsofradiationexposuretotheheadandneckregionsupportafocusonpotentialmethodsofprotectionforboththepatientandtheoperator.