Abstract:
Patients and staff are exposed to ionizing radiation during nuclear
medicine procedures. Protection against ionization radiation, known as a
carcinogenic agent, is crucial to reducing the probability of cancer effects.
The main objective of this study is to evaluate occupational and patient
exposure in nuclear medicine departments. Data were collected from
آNilain Diagnostic Cneter and National Center for Radiotherapy and
Nuclear medicine in Sudan and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and
Research Canter (KFSH&RC) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Occupational exposures were measured using TLD-100
thermoluminecent dosimeters, formed of LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100). TL
signal readout was carried out using a calibrated Harshaw 6600 TLD
reader. Patients dose were assessed using the administered activity and
computer software to assess the dose distribution. The Administrated
Activity was about (810±246 MBq) and the effective dose (mSv) was
about (7.1±2 mSv).While for bone scan administered activity was about
(796.8±58.2 MBq) and the effective dose was about (4.6±0.31 mSv). The
mean annual effective dose and range (in mSv) for Hp (10) and Hp (0.07)
being 4.6 ± 7.0 (0.1–25.5) and 5.1 ± 7.3 (0.1–25.5), respectively. The
results show five of the radiologists (16% of the total) receiving annual
effective doses above the annual dose limits. The outcomes of this survey
correlate with the outcome of published studies from other international
surveys for patient’s doses. The receipt by patients of significant doses
during PET/CT procedures depends on the clinical indications for
procedures as well as the imaging protocol. CT doses of some 73% of the
total patient dose have been found, optimisation of CT aquisition
parameters being seen to be vital in reducing the dose to its minimal
value. It is crucial to increase awareness of protective measures and to
ensure current radiology department practice follows national and
international standards. Rigorous investigation of the work circumstances
are essential in mitigating against staff over-exposures, careful dose
monitoring also being recommended with additional dosimeters (e.g for
the eye lens) if needed.
