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Radiation dose rates from paediatric patients undergoing 99Tcm investigations
P J Mountford1, M J O'Doherty, L K Harding
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury, UK.
Insights
Radiation dose rates for parents and nurses caring for pediatric patients undergoing technetium-99m (99mTc) nuclear medicine studies are generally low. These findings support current safety recommendations for close contact with young patients receiving radiopharmaceuticals.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Pediatric Radiation Safety
- Radiopharmaceutical Dosimetry
Background:
- Infants and children undergoing nuclear medicine investigations require close contact with caregivers.
- Estimating radiation dose to these caregivers is crucial for safety recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure radiation dose rates from pediatric patients undergoing technetium-99m (99mTc) studies.
- To compare these dose rates with those from adult patients.
- To inform radiation safety guidelines for caregivers.
Main Methods:
- Dose rates were measured at 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 m from 148 pediatric patients.
- Patients had undergone one of 12 different 99mTc nuclear medicine studies.
- Measurements were compared to previous studies on adult patients.
Main Results:
- Maximum dose rates from pediatric patients were not higher than those from adult patients.
- Dose rate per unit activity was higher in pediatric patients, correlating with decreased body weight.
- Estimated doses for parents and nurses were unlikely to exceed safety limits (1 mSv and 60 μSv/day, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Radiation doses to caregivers of pediatric patients are generally low.
- Current safety practices are likely adequate.
- Data can inform future radiation safety recommendations and legislative changes.
Abstract:
Infants or children undergoing nuclear medicine investigations may subsequently come into close contact with nurses or parents responsible for their care. In order to estimate the radiation dose to these individuals, and to formulate appropriate recommendations, dose rates were measured at distances of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 m from 148 paediatric patients who had undergone one of 12 99Tcm studies. The maximum dose rates of 70, 14 and 5 microSv h-1 at these distances were not greater than the corresponding maximum values found in an earlier study of adult patients. However, the maximum dose rates per unit activity of 0.5, 0.2 and 0.1 microSv h-1 MBq-1 were greater than the corresponding maximum 99Tcm adult values, consistent with a general increase of dose rate per unit activity with decrease of body weight observed in the paediatric measurements. A parent caring for and feeding a young infant is most unlikely to receive a dose equivalent of 1 mSv, and a nurse attending to one young radioactive patient is most unlikely to receive a dose equivalent in a working day of 60 microSv. The data obtained should allow radiation doses to be estimated and appropriate recommendations to be formulated for other circumstances, including any future legislative changes in dose limits or derived levels.