Radiation exposure comparison nuclear medicine vs PET/CT

Abstract

Purpose Personnel monitoring results provide information on routine radiation exposure, assist in work planning and allow control of the workplace. The aim of this study was to compare the gamma dose received by dedicated medical workers operating in the first PET/CT department in Greece and also by dedicated medical workers operating in conventional Nuclear Medicine procedures in the same center. PET/CT studies are restricted to the use of 18 F fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). In addition Tc-99m, Tl-201, Ga-67 and I-131 are the radiotracers mostly used in our Nuclear Medicine department. Method To estimate the effective dose from external exposure, all 9 members of the staff (2 nurses, 2 medical physicists, 5 technologists) had TLD badges worn at the upper pocket of their overall and digital dosimeters worn at the side pocket. Nurses and Medical Physicists also had TLD rings. The nurses and technologists 1,2 are working only in the PET/CT department, while technologists 3,4,5 are operating only in the Nuclear Medicine department covering the most common procedures. Medical Physicists 1,2 are operating in both departments. Results In the period of January 2015 to December 2015 a total of 977 PET/CT studies and 2322conventional Nuclear Medicine procedures were performed. The collective effective and finger doses received by all 4 members of the PET/CT staff were the following: Nurse 1 received 4.98 mSv as a whole body dose and 44.3 mSv as a hand dose and Nurse 2 received 5.01 mSv whole body dose and 46.7 mSv hand dose respectively. Technologists 1 and 2 received 1,95 mSv and 1,56 mSv as the whole body dose respectively. Medical Physicist 1 received 1,75 mSv whole body dose and 65.3 mSv hand dose and Medical Physicist received 2 2,17 mSv and 66.1 mSv respectively. Technologists 3,4 and 5 received 1,85 mSv, 1,76 mSv and 1,82 mSv as whole body doses respectively Conclusion The personnel dose results are significantly lower than the recommended annual dose by International Commission for Radiological Protection. The higher value of gamma dose for PET/CT workers by comparison with the staff operating conventional Nuclear Medicine procedures is attributable to the higher specific gamma constant of 18 F, as well as the longer exposure time required for accurate positioning.