Radiation dose to the hands in nuclear medicine

Study of the distribution of radiation dose across both hands during the dispensing and administration of radiopharmaceuticals is useful in the assessment of the extremity doses received by nuclear medicine personnel. Some staff in the UK have already been designated as classified radiation workers due to the radiation doses that their hands may receive. With possible forthcoming reductions in the dose limits, it is important that as much data as possible is available on such dosimetry. By measuring the dose at nine different locations on each hand, an optimal site (the base of the second digit) to represent a more accurate 'mean hand dose' could be determined. The use of inserting different butterfly cannula into a vein, prior to radiopharmaceutical administration, was assessed in terms of the dose reduction effect to the member of staff performing the task. It was found that a long tubing cannula (300 mm) did not significantly reduce the radiation dose of the operator whereas shorter ones (95 mm) gave a very significant dose reduction.