Influence of Interventionists’ Experience on Radiation Exposure of Patients Who Underwent Prostate Artery Embolization: 4-Year Results from a Retrospective, Single-Center Study

Purpose To assess radiation exposure in men undergoing prostate artery embolization (PAE) for the treatment for symptomatic, benign prostatic hyperplasia depending on growing experience of interventional radiologists over a 4-year period. Methods A total of 250 consecutive patients underwent PAE at a single center. Data on radiation exposure [dose area product (DAP), effective dose (ED), entrance skin dose (ESD), and fluoroscopy time (FT)] were retrospectively evaluated. Primary outcomes of interest were patient radiation exposure in five consecutive groups of 50 patients each and Pearson correlation with the number of patients treated. Results Median DAP, ED, and ESD during prostate artery embolization were significantly higher in the first compared to the second 50 patients (56 298 µGym 2 vs. 24 709 µGym 2 , p < 0.001, 146.4 mSv vs. 64.2 mSv, p < 0.001, and 5.1 Gy vs. 2.4 Gy, p < 0.001, respectively). The following consecutive groups did not differ significantly from the respective preceding group in terms of DAP, ED, and ESD. Number of digital subtraction angiography series, FT, and procedure time decreased with increasing operator experience (Pearson’s r = − 0.240, p < 0.001, r = − 0.269, p < 0.001, and r = − 0.504, p < 0.001, respectively). Bilateral prostate artery embolization was associated with less ESD and shorter FT than unilateral embolization (median 2.5 vs. 3.5 Gy, p = 0.02, and 26 min vs. 42 min, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Exposure to radiation in men who underwent PAE decreased with growing operator experience and decreasing complexity of procedures.