Diagnostic radiology is a field of physical medicine that uses X rays to obtain functional and anatomical information on the human body. The techniques associated to this area use X ray tubes as radiation sources, films to record information, and monitoring systems using television and computers for the digitalization of images. Fluoroscopic equipment is considered as artificial springs of ionizing radiation and is used in diagnostic exams and procedures of vascular illnesses. The objective of this study was to critically analyze the protection methods regarding the radiation emitted by fluoroscopy used by professionals dealing with interventional radiology in a hospital environment. An evaluation of protection methods adopted by professionals directly involved in procedures of interventional radiology was performed based on extensive literature review of textbooks and medical journals indexed on MEDLINE in Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish from 1966 to 2005. It is in accordance with the radiological protection security norms and regulations guided by Edict 453/98 of the Brazilian Department of Health and the National Commission of Nuclear Energy NN-3.01 of the Brazilian Department of Science and Technology.
Radiation; ionizing; interventional radiology; fluoroscopy; radiation protection; X rays