Assessment of external radiation dose rate after 18FDG-PET/CT examination

Abstract

Background F-18 FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) PET/CT procedures are one of the most growing studies used for patient management in oncology, cardiology, neurology, and other indications, in which the challenges meet both patients and clinicians, especially when we are looking for the presence/absence of disease progression and cure. This study was conducted to assess the external radiation dose after 18FDG-PET/CT examination. In total, 117 patients were enrolled in the study. Radiation exposure was measured using a calibrated RadEye SPRD-ER personal radiation detector. The measurements were taken at 0, 30, 100, 150, and 200 cm distance from the patient. The time of measurement was immediately post-injection, 30 min, 60 min after injection, and at the time of releasing the patient. Results The result showed that the mean radiation equivalent dose rate at 0 min/0 cm was 414 µSv/h, at 30 min/30 cm was 99.7 µSv/h, and 60 min/100 cm was 18.3 µSv/h. The radiation doses at different distances (0, 30, 100, 150, and 200 cm) were 160.9 µSv/h, 70.9 µSv/h, 12.4 µSv/h, 7 µSv/h, and 3.7 µSv/h, respectively. Conclusion In conclusion, the patient can be safely released after 2 h of injection in (18F-FDG) PET/CT and the radiation dose can be limited by increasing distance from the radiation source and also instructing them to drink much more water to enhance the process of excretions. The dose rates are low in this study; if the staff interact with multiple patients, they will not approach exposure limits. Similarly, dose rates are so low at patient release that family will not receive doses above regulatory limits.

Determination of Activity Concentrations and Internal Dose Assessments in Urine from Workers in Iraqi Nuclear Research Center, Iraq

“…With the active revolution production of nuclear power and the wide use of nuclear technique, more workers in nuclear power plants (NPPs) are exposed to radioactivity. Due to occupational risk factor, radioactivity can cause internal and external hazardous and subsequently cause immediate or late radiation insult [7,8]. The tritium low decay energy limits its toxicity; thus, tritium has a harm effect from internal sources only.…”

Predicting, Protecting, and Minimizing: A Software Tool for Safe Interactions with Nuclear Medicine Patients

“…Water phantoms serve to mimic patient bodily tissues, including the attenuation and self-absorption of radiopharmaceuticals. Investigations involving limited radiopharmaceuticals at fixed distances have been carried out with survey meters, conducted with water phantoms and nuclear medicine patients [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. These studies consistently demonstrate that the cumulative dose and dose rates from nuclear medicine imaging patients are not of concern for those under occupational monitoring.…”