Operators face unique radiation protection challenges when working with CT. In angiography, exposure to intense backscattered radiation can be avoided by maintaining the x-ray tube beneath the patient table or by standing by the image receptor end of the C-arm when using oblique or lateral projections. In CT, some exposure to backscattered radiation is unavoidable, as the x-ray tube is not stationary but instead rotates around the patient. In addition, the intensity of stray radiation in CT is higher by approximately a factor of 10 compared to the angiography lab.

Interventional CT procedures utilize a different workflow from diagnostic CT procedures. A typical procedure involves the acquisition of high-quality planning data, followed by the biopsy procedure and its associated scans, and often ends with the acquisition of another set of high-quality post-procedure data. The technical factors used during the different phases of the procedure should be tailored to the goals of each individual phase. In particular, the biopsy portion of the procedure should use lower techniques than the pre- and post-procedure scans. This is especially important considering the fact that the patient is likely to be scanned multiple times at the same location. The use of excessive technical factors for the biopsy phase may put the patient at risk for deterministic radiation injuries such as erythema or epilation [4]. High-contrast anatomical landmarks can be used to navigate on the biopsy scans, or an external electromagnetic guidance system can be used in conjunction with the planning data to guide the intervention.