In plain language
In 150 staff, interventional radiology personnel had higher lens density and more cataract than controls, while perioperative nurses using C-arm fluoroscopy did not differ from controls. Nurse exposure was not measured, so low risk is not confirmed.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Original research, Cross-sectional survey
- Who was studied
- Nurses, Interventional radiologists, Mixed lab staff
- Size
- n = 150 participants
- Summary based on
- the full text
What it found
Interventional radiology personnel had higher posterior lens density than perioperative nurses and unexposed controls.
Key figures: 8.99 ± 1.50 vs 8.40 ± 0.69 (p = 0.001) vs 8.20 ± 0.27 (p < 0.001)
Perioperative nurses working with C-arm fluoroscopy did not differ from unexposed controls in lens density.
Key figures: mean difference 0.17, p = 0.539
Posterior subcapsular opacities, PNS grade ≥1 and overall cataract were more frequent in interventional radiology staff.
Key figures: PSC 6.1% vs 3.0% vs 2.0% (p = 0.001); PNS ≥1 17.1% vs 8.0% vs 3.9% (p = 0.002); cataract 19.5% vs 6.0% vs 4.0% (p = 0.001)
Very few interventional radiology staff reported wearing protective eyewear.
Key figures: 2.7%
No personal dosimetry was available for perioperative nurses because they are not classified as radiation workers; exposure was inferred from workflow observation.
Limits to keep in mind
Small cross-sectional convenience sample with no personal dosimetry for nurses, so exposure was inferred rather than measured and no dose-response could be assessed; years of employment differed between groups, and the country and setting details are sparse.
Related research summaries
- Occupational radiation doses to the extremities and the eyes in interventional radiology and cardiology procedures (2011, Dosimetry measurement study)
- Occupational Protection in Interventional Radiology. A Joint Guideline of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe and the Society of Interventional Radiology (2026, 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)
- Radiation Protection in Interventional Radiology (2022, Narrative review)
- Get Protected! Recommendations for Staff in IR (2021, Narrative review)
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.