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Introduction Integrated Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with Computerized tomography (CT) (PET/CT) are widely used to diagnose, stage and track human diseases during whole body scanning. Multi-modality imaging is an interesting area of research that aims at acquiring united morphological-functional image information for accurate diagnosing and staging of the disease. However, PET/CT procedure accompanied with high radiation dose from CT and administered radioactivity. The aim of the present study was to estimate the patients’ dose from 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose imaging (18F-FDG) hybrid PET/CT whole body scan. Materials and methods RADAR (Radiation Dose Assessment Resource) software was used to estimate the effective dose for 156 patients (110 (70.5%)) males and 46 (39.5%) female) examined using Discovery PET/CT 710, GE Medical Systems installed at Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC). Results The effective dose results presented in this PET/CT study ranged from (1.56–9.94 mSv). The effective dose was calculated to be 3.88 mSv in females and 3.71 mSv in males. The overall breast (female), lung, liver, kidney and thyroid were 7.4, 7.2, 5.2, 4, 3 and 2.9, respectively. For females, the body mass index (BMI) was 28.49 kg/m 2 and for males it was 26.50 kg/m 2 which showed overweight values for both genders. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the effective dose of 18F-FDG in both male and female patients was not substantially different. The study suggested that the risk–benefit proportions of any 18 F-FDG whole body PET/CT scan should be clarified and carefully weighed. Patient’s doses are lower compared with previous studies.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the shielding of some conventional x-ray rooms in Khartoum state. This study is based on the shielding calculations stated in the NCRP report number 49. This is the first time in Sudan to evaluate the shielding of diagnostic x-ray rooms based on this report.The total number of conventional x- ray rooms included in this study is 9 and the main parameters recorded during the evaluation are the KVp, mAs, and distance from the x-ray source to the measuring points. The dose rate at some selected points both inside and outside each x-ray room have been recorded using two dosimeters.The result of the evaluation revealed that 75% of the tested controlled area and 71.4% of the uncontrolled areas passed the test and do comply with the recommended limiting doses. However, only one room was found to be well shielded for both controlled and uncontrolled areas. The maximum allowed dose rate in controlled and uncontrolled areas was taken equal to 5 mSv/year & 1 mSv/year respectively and as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Calculations of the required shielding have been made for those areas which have not passed the tests and for lead and concrete.

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This study designed to evaluate the entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) to the patient during X-ray examination to the skull antero-posterior (AP), skull Lateral (LAT), chest postero-anterior (PA), Lumber spine AP/LAT and Pelvis AP. Totally, 408 patients were included in this study using computed radiography (CR) in different three hospitals in Khartoum; five X-ray machines were covered. The entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) was calculated for each patient from the exposure parameters using different peak tube voltages. Patient's data such as (age and weight) and exposure parameters (kVp) and (mAs) were recorded. The result obtained showed that, the entrance surface air kerma ranged from 0.88 to 3.30 mGy for Skull (AP), 0.588 to 1.87 mGy for skull (LAT), 0.03 to 2 mGy for chest PA, 1.50 to 3.40 mGy Lumbar spine AP, 2.60 to 5.15 mGy for Lumbar spine (LAT), and 1.05 to 4.40 mGy for Pelvis. This study provides additional data that can help the regulatory authority to establish reference dose level for diagnostic radiology in Sudan. This study recommends that the CR operator must be used to optimize the patient dose by using the best strategies available for reducing radiation dose. Computed radiography must be used with high level training for medical staff to reduce the dose; each radiology department should implement a patient dose measurement quality assurance programme. Doses to the patients should be regularly monitored and the proposed national DRLs should be taken as guidance for optimization.