Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41505039›Full record

ArticleLa Radiologia medica2026

A step toward diagnostic reference levels for male varicocele embolization: dosimetric comparison across two generations of angiographic systems.

Laura Maria Cacioppa, Francesco Mariotti, Alberto Mari, Alessandra Bruno, Nicolò Rossini, Giangabriele Francavilla, Marco Macchini, Marzia Rosati, Davide Matteagi, Paolo Veccia and 5 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in La Radiologia medica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Laura Maria CacioppaDivision of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiological Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Francesco MariottiDepartment of Clinical, Special and Dental Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Alberto MariDivision of Medical Physics, Department of Radiological Sciences, University Hospital "Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Delle Marche", Ancona, Italy.
Alessandra BrunoDepartment of Clinical, Special and Dental Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Nicolò RossiniDepartment of Clinical, Special and Dental Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy. nicolorossini44@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-3815-706X
Giangabriele FrancavillaDepartment of Clinical, Special and Dental Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Marco MacchiniDivision of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiological Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Marzia RosatiDivision of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiological Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Davide MatteagiDivision of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiological Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Paolo VecciaDivision of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiological Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Edoardo BindiDepartment of Clinical, Special and Dental Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Andrea Benedetto GalosiDepartment of Clinical, Special and Dental Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Giovanni CobellisDepartment of Clinical, Special and Dental Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Roberto CandelariDivision of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiological Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Chiara FloridiDivision of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiological Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePercutaneous endovascular embolization (PVE) of male varicocele is a widely adopted procedure performed in healthy young patients with long life expectancy. Dose-optimization systems are therefore essential to minimize procedural radiation risks. We aimed to investigate the effect of a recently implemented dose-reduction technology on dosimetric parameters and its potential implication in the definition of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). MATERIALS AND

methodsA consecutive series of 113 patients (23.3 ± 9.1 yrs) submitted to PVE between January 2020 and December 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Two groups based on the angiographic system used, 50 patients treated using the Philips Allura Xper FD20 and 63 patients using the newer Philips Azurion Clarity IQ technology, were compared in terms of demographic, procedural, and dosimetric data.

resultsDespite similar fluoroscopy and procedure times, the recently implemented angiographic technology demonstrated a significant reduction in dose area product (DAP) and reference air kerma (Ka.ref) values (4394.5 vs 20,709 mGy·cm

conclusionThe use of advanced dose-optimization technologies, together with standardized protocols and appropriate operator training, leads to a significant reduction in radiation exposure during PVE, particularly in younger patients. These single-center, retrospective results provide preliminary data that may support the future introduction of procedure-specific DRLs for this routinely and widely performed interventional radiology procedure.

Indexed as

AngiographyEmbolization, TherapeuticVaricoceleAdultDiagnostic Reference LevelsFluoroscopyHumansMaleRadiation DosageRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultDose area productFluoroscopy timeMale subfertilityRadiation doseRadiation protectionTherapeutic embolizationVaricocele

Identifiers

PMID41505039
PMCPMC13102790

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.