Nuclear Medicine Dosimetry

Abstract

This chapter begins the introduction of the application of the radiation dosimetry theory developed so far to nuclear medicine. The phases through which the development of a radiopharmaceutical must pass in order to enter the market are summarized, with emphasis upon when radiation dosimetry evaluations are necessary. A brief overview of the history of internal radiation dosimetry is provided, looking at early attempts at measuring the biodistribution of an administered radionuclide, and reviewing the development of the Marinelli-Quimby-Hine dosimetry calculation method of the 1940s. The Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD) schema is introduced and the fundamental MIRD equation derived from first principles. Similarly, the equivalent schema of the Internal Commission on Radiological Protection is introduced and parallels between it and the MIRD schema drawn. Finally, an overview of contemporary software codes used for nuclear medicine internal radiation dosimetry calculations is given.