In plain language
In a computer simulation of an interventional room, tungsten-based multilayer apron materials, especially gadolinium-tungsten, lowered modelled physician organ dose somewhat more than 0.5 mm lead. Real garments, weight and wear were not tested.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Original research, Phantom or simulation study
- Who was studied
- Phantom or simulation (no people)
- Where
- Iran
- Summary based on
- the full text
What it found
Tungsten and tungsten multilayers with gadolinium and bismuth gave the highest simulated protection for all physician organs at 80-120 kVp, with Gd-W and Gd-W-Bi showing the greatest reduction in transmission.
Key figures: 80-120 kVp
A lead apron reduced simulated organ doses to under 1% of unshielded dose at 70 kVp, but protection fell at higher energy, with kidneys still receiving 7.7% of the unshielded dose at 120 kVp.
Key figures: 0.87% at 70 kVp vs 7.7% at 120 kVp (kidneys)
At 70 kVp, only tungsten bilayers with antimony or tin outperformed lead in the upper and middle organs.
Key figures: MRDD upper -0.424 to -0.136
Low-Z upstream/high-Z downstream bilayers (Gd-W, Sn-W) attenuated better than reversed configurations (W-Gd, W-Sn) for all organs.
Key figures: RDD ratio about 2 at 70 kVp to about 1 at 120 kVp
A small uncovered gap at the top of the thyroid in the model raised simulated thyroid dose, underscoring the need for full neck coverage; upper leg bone coverage also mattered.
Key figures: about 3 mm uncovered
Limits to keep in mind
Purely Monte Carlo simulation with stylized MIRD-type phantoms and a single modelled room, validated against one dosimeter measurement (calculated 140.74 µGy vs measured 111.4 µGy). Shields were compared at fixed 0.5 mm thickness, and several tungsten composites (e.g. Gd-W 6.8 kg/m2) are heavier per area than lead (5.68 kg/m2), so lighter-apron claims are untested.
Related research summaries
- Ocular radiation protection efficiency and ergonomic performance of a novel Shoulder-Mounted radiation shield for interventional procedures (2026, Phantom or simulation study)
- Estimating effective dose using non-lead protective aprons and a single dosimeter method (2026, Modeling or economic study)
- Occupational Pelvic and Chest-Level Radiation Exposure Among Interventional Echocardiographers During Percutaneous Structural Heart Interventions (2026, Dosimetry measurement study)
- Occupational Radiation Exposures in Interventional Radiology and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (2026, Retrospective cohort study)
- Qualitative descriptions of health protective behavior in catheterization laboratory nurses exposed to occupational radiation hazards (2026, Qualitative study)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the full text of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.
Prepared November 3, 2026.