Radiation dosimetry at CT fluoroscopy: Physician's hand dose and development of needle holders

The radiation dose to physicians' hands without and with use of needle holders tvas determined at 10 computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy guided transthoracic needle biopsies. As measured with ionization chambers (tube voltage, 80 kVp; tube current, 30 mA), the mean absorbed dose rate without and with holders was 1.14 mGy/sec +/- 0.02 (standard deviation) and 0.019 mGy/sec +/- 0.001, respectively. The mean duration of CT fluoroscopy was 59 seconds in 10 biopsies performed with a holder and 82 seconds in 10 biopsies performed without a holder (difference not statistically significant), The needle holders did not cause any artifacts that interfered with the biopsy procedure.