Occupational Protection in Interventional Radiology. A Joint Guideline of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe and the Society of Interventional Radiology

In plain language

This updated Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE)-Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) guideline advises the whole interventional radiology team on radiation and musculoskeletal protection, including dosimetry, eyewear and shields, ergonomics, pregnancy, computed tomography (CT)-guided work and radioembolization; it reports that pregnant staff can keep working with standard protection.

At a glance

Type of study: Guideline or consensus statement
Who was studied: Interventional radiologists, Nurses, Radiologic technologists, Medical physicists and radiation safety officers, Anesthesia staff, Mixed lab staff
Topics: Musculoskeletal injury and ergonomics Eye lens and cataracts Cancer risk Pregnancy and reproductive health Personal protective equipment Room shielding and protective devices Dosimetry and monitoring Dose reduction techniques Training and education Regulation and policy Safety culture and compliance DNA and cellular effects Women in the field
Summary based on: the full text

What it found

Musculoskeletal injuries affect all lab staff and are more common in radiographers and nurses than physicians; ergonomic measures such as proper monitor position, fitted aprons, movable shields and microbreaks are recommended.
Key figures: Microbreaks of 1-2 min every 20-60 min
Interventional radiologists using appropriate precautions typically receive effective doses well below the 20 mSv International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) annual limit.
Key figures: 2-6 mSv/y
Occupational fetal doses in interventional radiology (IR) staff are well below 1 mSv; pregnant staff can continue working with appropriate protection, and garments thicker than 0.5 mm lead equivalent add no meaningful benefit while raising musculoskeletal risk.
Key figures: Average fetal dose < 0.3 mSv
Radioprotective eyewear is necessary for scrubbed staff, but ceiling-suspended shields remain necessary; caps covering only above the eyes do not protect against patient scatter.
Two-dosimeter monitoring is recommended by ICRP and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) for interventionalists; hand and eye dosimeters may be added for specific procedures.

Limits to keep in mind

Consensus guideline based on regulations and a pragmatic, non-systematic literature search; recommendations are expert opinion rather than new data.

SCAI Multi-Society Position Statement on Occupational Health Hazards (2020, Guideline or consensus statement)
Radiation exposure in interventional cardiology: a narrative review of health effects and novel approaches to ensure radiation safety (2025, Narrative review)
SIR-CIRSE Joint Guideline on Occupational Radiation Protection (2010, Guideline or consensus statement)
Occupational Radiological Protection in Interventional Procedures, ICRP PUBLICATION 139 (2018, Guideline or consensus statement)
AST Standards for Ionizing Radiation Exposure (Guideline or consensus statement)

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.