RADAR Medical Procedure Radiation Dose Calculator and Consent Language Generator

RADAR Medical Procedure Radiation Dose Calculator

and Consent Language Generator

This form gives radiation dose estimates for certain radiographic and nuclear medicine procedures, based on literature reported values. Individual organ doses and total body effective doses are given for these specified examinations, and some combinations of examinations. In addition, a short statement is generated, which may be useful as part of a patient consent form document, explaining the radiation doses as numerical values and as equivalent days of exposure to natural background radiation.

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To use this form:

Select the radiologic examinations you wish to employ from the drop-down lists. You may choose up to three radiographic exams (x-ray or CT) and two nuclear medicine exams. You can select studies from more than one major category. Fluoroscopic exams are less straightforward; other literature should be consulted for guidance.
You may also enter the number (N) of each type of study in the small boxes to the left of the drop-down lists. This is optional; if you enter nothing, one study will be assumed to be done.
For nuclear medicine studies, default values for the administered radioactivity of the various exams are supplied automatically. You can supply your own value for administered radioactivity (in millicuries), if you know it to be different by entering the new value in the box immediately to the right of the drop-down list. To accept the default values, just leave default values supplied unchanged. For example, the default value for administered radioactivity for a "Tc-99m Macro aggregated albumin (MAA)" is 4 millicuries; this value will appear in the box if you choose this scan. If your protocol uses a maximum of 2 millicuries, select "Tc-99m Macro aggregated albumin (MAA)" in the drop-down list, delete the "4" and enter "2" in the box to the right of the "Tc-99m Macro aggregated albumin (MAA)" selection.
For a rough Spanish translation of your risk statement, check the box provided.
When everything looks good, push the "OK" button. If you need to, push the "Clear" button and try again.

By checking this box, you agree to free from any and all liability for your use of this page and any information derived therefrom, the following parties: RADAR Inc., individual members of RADAR, Vanderbilt University, the National Institutes of Health, all other human beings on this earth.

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YOU USE THIS FREE TOOL AND ITS RESULTS AT YOUR OWN RISK.
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By checking this box, and proceeding past this point, you indicate that you could not agree more with us about this, and furthermore that you are lookin really good today.

Radiographic Procedures

N:
N:
N:

Nuclear Medicine Scans

Activity (mCi):
Activity (mCi):

Check this box to include a rough Spanish translation of the consent form language.

Total effective dose: mSv, or mrem

Consent Language - You can copy and paste this text into your consent form document, with some minor editing:

RADAR suggests use of the system developed at the National Institutes of Health, which endorses a three-tiered approach to consent language for radiation exposures:

For effective doses under 3 mSv (300 mrem), the risk is considered to be "minimal" and the consent language is rather brief. The doses are related to the equivalent number of days of exposure to natural background.
For effective doses between 3 mSv (300 mrem) and 50 mSv (5000 mrem, or 5 rem), the risk is still termed "minimal", but slightly more consent form language is recommended. Doses are still related to the equivalent number of days of exposure to natural background, but information about individual organ doses should be given to the subject.
For effective doses above 50 mSv (5000 mrem, or 5 rem), the risk is described as "acceptable". Doses to individual organs should always be discussed, and more extensive language should be provided. Use of the effective dose concept and comparison to background exposures may not be appropriate.
For situations involving radiation therapy, special risk language should be developed on a case-specific basis. Doses to individual organs should always be discussed and use of the effective dose concept and comparison to background exposures is absolutely not appropriate.
Other consent form language may be preferred by individual institutions; the language suggested here is only one possible alternative.

References: Most radiology doses taken from Wall and Hart, Brit J Radiol, 1997, UNSCEAR 2000 or the 2007 CRCPD NEXT report; most pharmaceutical doses taken from ICRP Publications 53 and 80.

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For any questions or comments about this form contact:

Michael Stabin, PhD, CHP
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu
(615) 343-4628