Spot fluoroscopy: a novel innovative approach to reduce radiation dose in neurointerventional procedures

BACKGROUND: Increased interest in radiation dose reduction in neurointerventional procedures has led to the development of a method called “spot fluoroscopy” (SF), which enables the operator to collimate a rectangular or square region of interest anywhere within the general field of view. This has potential advantages over conventional collimation, which is limited to symmetric collimation centered over the field of view. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of SF on the radiation dose. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients with intracranial aneurysms were treated with endovascular coiling. SF was used in 16 patients and conventional fluoroscopy in 19. The following parameters were analyzed: the total fluoroscopic time, the total air kerma, the total fluoroscopic dose-area product, and the fluoroscopic dose-area product rate. Statistical differences were determined using the Welch’s t-test. RESULTS: The use of SF led to a reduction of 50% of the total fluoroscopic dose-area product (CF = 106.21 Gycm(2), SD = 99.06 Gycm(2) versus SF = 51.80 Gycm(2), SD = 21.03 Gycm(2), p = 0.003884) and significant reduction of the total fluoroscopic dose-area product rate (CF = 1.42 Gycm(2)/min, SD = 0.57 Gycm(2)/s versus SF = 0.83 Gycm(2)/min, SD = 0.37 Gycm(2)/min, p = 0.00106). The use of SF did not lead to an increase in fluoroscopy time or an increase in total fluoroscopic cumulative air kerma, regardless of collimation. CONCLUSION: The SF function is a new and promising tool for reduction of the radiation dose during neurointerventional procedures.