Estimation of patients organ doses and staff exposure during bone scan examination

Abstract

Radiopharmaceuticals are utilized in diagnostic nuclear medicine (NM) for a wide range of disorders. The purposes of the work are to assess patient organ doses in bone scan procedure with 99 m Tc-Methyl diphosphonate (MDP) and quantify the NM technologist exposure during bone scan procedure. Staff radiation exposure was determined using thermo-luminescent dosimeters (TLDs, Type LiF: Mg, Cu, P (GR200A)) were placed at the dominant hand. The TLD was calibrated to estimate the personal equivalent dose Hp (10) and Hp (0.07). The mean and range of the annual personal dose equivalent (Hp (10) and Hp (0.07) mSv) were 7.6 (3.2–9.1) and 30 (17.2–44), respectively. The patients' bladder retains an insignificant amount of the administered activity. Vast differences in patients’ and occupational doses were detected. Increasing staff awareness about radiation safety is recommended to enhance radiation protection and education unnecessary radiation doses. The personal doses equivalent are within the acceptable annual determined limits.