Retrospektive Analyse der kumulativen Strahlendosis von Patienten nach primärer Cerebralshunt-Implantation
Retrospective analysis of the cumulative radiation exposure in patients after primary cerebral shunt implantation
by Jonas Ajouri
Date of Examination:2022-10-06
Date of issue:2022-10-07
Advisor:Prof. Dr. Veit Rohde
Referee:Prof. Dr. Veit Rohde
Referee:Prof. Dr. Christian Riedel
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Abstract
English
Cerebral shunts are established devices in the treatment of hydrocephalus and pseudotumor cerebri. Radiological imaging is not only necessary in pre- and post-operative diagnostics but also when complications occur. These mainly happen within the first year after shunt implantation. This retrospective study aimed to determine and assess the amount of radiation patients were exposed to within in the first two years after implantation. Initially, 355 adult patients with either malresorptive or occlusive hydrocephalus, idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) or pseudotumor cerebri were included with a decrease to 131 patients after two years. Further, patient- and treatment associated variables (e. g. age, comorbidities and diagnostic tests) were recorded. The cumulative effective dose was calculated as a sum of all single radiation doses linked to the shunt within the first two years after implantation. We used either standardized effective doses or calculated effective doses, depending on the examination. The median cumulative effective dose directly after implantation, after one and two years was 4.82 mSv, 6.82 mSv and 8.80 mSv, respectively. The mean increase in radiation exposure was 2.86 mSv in the first year and 1.37 mSv in the second year. Significant higher values were found in patients with epilepsy, lower values in Evans’ index or hydrocephalus malresorptivus. In patients with iNHP higher scores in Kiefer’s comorbidity index were associated with higher radiation exposure directly after implantation. All these effects could only be shown occasionally. The second analysis aimed to determine the effects those variables had on the increase of the cumulative effective dose over time. This yielded no significant results. After two years 124 (94.7%) patients had received a cumulative effective dose below 20 mSv, whereas 7 patients had received more than 20 mSv. No patient had received a dose above 50 mSv. In respect of threshold values of radiation protection and the extrapolated risk of malignomas, the radiation exposure associated with a cerebral shunt was assessed as low. The clinical impact of the shown significant differences were also assessed as low due to their low absolute values.
Keywords: cerebral shunt; shunt complications; radiation exposure