Measurements of the Ionising Radiation Level at a Nuclear Medicine Facility Performing Pet/Ct Examinations

Abstract

This paper presents the results of radiation level measurements at workplaces in a nuclear medicine facility performing PET/CT examinations. This study meticulously determines the staff radiation exposure in a PET/CT facility by tracking the path of patient movement. The measurements of the instantaneous radiation exposure were performed using an electronic radiometer with a proportional counter that was equipped with the option of recording the results on line. The measurements allowed for visualisation of the staff's instantaneous exposure caused by a patient walking through the department after the administration of 18F-FDG. An estimation of low doses associated with each working step and the exposure during a routine day in the department was possible. The measurements were completed by determining the average radiation level using highly sensitive thermoluminescent detectors.

External radiation exposure rate after 18F-FDG PET/CT examination

“…A recent study from Poland estimated staff radiation exposure in a nuclear medicine facility after administration of 18F-FDG for the purpose of PET/CT examination in a dynamic way (Tulik et al, 2017). Staff exposure caused by a patient walking through the department was instantaneously measured through the path on several locations and average exposures were calculated.…”

“…On the other hand, positron-emitting florin generates 511 keV annihilation photons raising occupational as well as public safety concerns. To date, a number of studies have examined the occupational safety of this imaging modality (Nakamura et al, 2006;Seierstad et al, 2007;Andersen et al, 2008;Zanzonico et al, 2008;Vargas Castrillon and Cutanda Henriquez, 2011;Kumar et al, 2012;Wrzesien and Napolska, 2015;Wrzesien and Albiniak, 2016;Tulik et al, 2017;Zargan et al, 2017;Mithun et al, 2018); however, information regarding environmental and public exposure following patient discharge is scarce (Al-Haj et al, 2011;Demir et al, 2011). Such lack of information results in hesitations on the timing of safe patient discharge or safe referral to other hospital units.…”

The potential advantages and workflow challenges of long axial field of view PET/CT

“…Apart from the radiation exposure to patients and the general public, there have also been recent studies on the occupational radiation dose received by staff working in current PET/CT facilities. The patient throughput, activity of radiopharmaceutical injected and the facility design were identified factors affecting the radiation dose received by staff 36 . Technologists are exposed to radiation levels within limits set by their regulatory bodies 36–38 .…”

“…The patient throughput, activity of radiopharmaceutical injected and the facility design were identified factors affecting the radiation dose received by staff 36 . Technologists are exposed to radiation levels within limits set by their regulatory bodies 36–38 . However, there are concerns about the dose received by technologists to the extremities and more radiosensitive areas, for example fingers and eyes, respectively 39,40 .…”

Reactor Laboratory for Biomedical Research in National Centre for Nuclear Research in Poland

“…The team has original experience in measurements of the radiation field/beam for selected medical facilities: x-ray radiotherapy, 3,4 x-ray radiography, 5,6 proton therapy, 7,8 BNCT, [9][10][11] and PET tomography. 12 The activities of the Radiobiological Laboratory focus on exposure to radiation of human cell cultures. As a part of the laboratory's tasks, it is possible to study and determine the biological uptake mechanism of boron-containing molecules, as well as evaluating their effect on cell survival, apoptosis, signalling, and transport.…”