Lead Aprons and Thyroid Shields in Interventional Pain Management

At a glance

Type of study

Narrative review

Who was studied

Other physicians

Where

South Korea

Topics

Personal protective equipmentThyroidDosimetry and monitoringTraining and educationMusculoskeletal injury and ergonomicsBreast cancerEye lens and cataractsSafety culture and compliance

Summary based on

the full text

What it found

• Across reviewed studies, pain physicians' radiation exposure was within safety limits when lead aprons and thyroid shields were used, though stochastic risk remains.

• A 0.5 mm apron attenuates about 90% or more of scatter; lead glasses reduce more than 95%.

  Key figures: ≥90%; >95%

• Thyroid shields reduce effective dose substantially, and wearing them tightly lowers thyroid dose versus loose wear.

  Key figures: 2.5-fold effective dose reduction; ~50% total exposure

• In Korean surveys, lead glasses were worn far less often than aprons or thyroid shields.

  Key figures: aprons 93-100%, thyroid shields 81-100%, glasses 38-40%

• Most Korean pain physicians had never received radiation safety education, and education did not change practice.

  Key figures: 61%

Limits to keep in mind

Narrative review with a non-systematic PubMed search of the last 10 years; relies on few, small dosimetry studies in pain management and does not appraise study quality.

Related research summaries

• Radiation Exposure, Training, and Safety in Cardiology (2024, Narrative review)
• Radiation safety: a focus on lead aprons and thyroid shields in interventional pain management (2018, Narrative review)
• SCAI Multi-Society Position Statement on Occupational Health Hazards (2020, Guideline or consensus statement)
• Radiation in the Orthopedic Operating Room: What We Know, What We Do, and What Needs Attention (2025, Narrative review)
• AST Standards for Ionizing Radiation Exposure (Guideline or consensus statement)