Radiation protection in fixed PET/CT facilities—design and operation

Abstract

ABSTRACT. We describe the design of a fixed positron emission tomography (PET)/CT facility and the use of a simulated instantaneous dose-rate plot to visually highlight areas of potentially high radiation exposure. We also illustrate the practical implementation of basic radiation protection principles based on the use of distance and shielding and the minimisation of time spent in hot areas. Staff whole body doses for 4 years are presented with results of an optimisation study analysing the dose arising from the different phases within each study using direct reading dosemeters. The total whole body dose for all staff for each patient fell from 9.5 mSv in the first full year of operation to 4.8 mSv in 2008. The maximum dose to an individual member of staff per patient decreased over the same period from 3.2 to 0.9 mSv. The optimisation study showed that the highest dose was recorded during the injection phase.

Monte Carlo Simulation for Distance and Absorbed Dose Calculations in a PET-CT Facility by Using MCNP-X

“…One of them which are also investigated in this study are distance factors in PET-CT facilities. It is well known that absorbed radiation dose decreases by increasing distance from the source and to optimized shielding materials in PET-CT facility [6].…”

The urgent need for protective shielding for personnel who administer radiopharmaceuticals

“…Decades ago, when positron emission tomography (PET) was developed, physicians who administered the radiotracers used syringes without shielding to inject the radiotracer into the participant. Although protective techniques have since been developed to utilize shielding, lead aprons [1][2][3], and other procedures to design work improvement to reduce radiation exposure to staff and patients, some experienced nuclear physicians continue the practice of injecting radiotracers without shielding because they believe that there is no significant difference in radiation exposure with or without shielding [4]. Nevertheless, the consensus is that physical shielding is necessary at all times to protect the injector, the participant, and co-workers from unnecessary radiation exposure.…”

Estudo da dose de radiação absorvida em indivíduo ocupacionalmente exposto em serviços de PET-CT.

“…A partir desses princípios criou-se uma cultura de segurança que leva em consideração vários fatores norteadores. Dentre esses fatores temos: estrutura adequada do local onde se trabalha com essas radiações, obediência aos protocolos de proteção radiológica, execução cuidadosa e cautelosa dos procedimentos estabelecidos nos protocolos, treinamento, engajamento e sintonia entre os IOE'S envolvidos, buscando assim, uma consciência coletiva de segurança 14 . Um fator preponderante para proteção radiológica é a justificativa cabível e necessária, aceita pelas regras da CNEN, que gere benefícios aos indivíduos que receberão a radiação ionizante.…”