MEASUREMENTS OF THE IONISING RADIATION LEVEL AT A NUCLEAR MEDICINE FACILITY PERFORMING PET/CT EXAMINATIONS.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiation Safety
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Nuclear medicine facilities performing Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) examinations involve staff exposure to radiation.
• Understanding and quantifying this exposure is crucial for ensuring occupational safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure radiation levels at workplaces within a PET/CT facility.
• To determine staff radiation exposure by tracking patient movement after 18F-FDG administration.
• To estimate doses associated with specific work steps and a routine workday.

Main Methods:

• Instantaneous radiation exposure measurements using an electronic radiometer with a proportional counter.
• Real-time data recording of radiation levels.
• Tracking patient movement pathways through the department.
• Determination of average radiation levels using thermoluminescent detectors.

Main Results:

• Visualisation of staff's instantaneous radiation exposure due to patient movement.
• Estimation of low radiation doses for individual work steps.
• Quantification of overall radiation exposure during a typical workday.
• Confirmation of average radiation levels using a secondary measurement technique.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully quantified staff radiation exposure in a PET/CT facility.
• Tracking patient movement provides valuable insights into exposure patterns.
• The methods employed allow for effective radiation safety management in nuclear medicine environments.