PATIENT DOSES IN WHOLE-BODY PET/CT EXAMINATIONS IN THE LARGEST TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN GREECE.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the patient radiation dose in combined whole-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) examinations performed in the largest tertiary hospital in Greece. Computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol), dose length product (DLP), weight, height and administered activity of 2-[18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose values for PET/CT examinations were recorded in a sample of 1014 randomly selected patients. The mean (±standard deviation) and median (interquartile) CTDIvol values were equal to 5.5±2.4 and 4.8 (2.5) mGy, respectively. The respective DLP values were 483.3±212.4 and 426 (234.6) mGy·cm. For the administered activity, mean and median were equal to 363.9±68.3 and 361.6 (85.6) MBq. The mean administered activity per body weight was 4.8±0.6 and the median 4.8 (0.6) MBq/kg. The results of this survey are within the range of values reported in the literature and can be used as a standard of reference until national diagnostic reference levels are established for whole-body PET/CT procedures.