Evaluation of Radiation Exposure for the Employees and Patients at Nuclear Medicine Departments

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.