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Paediatric nuclear medicine practice: an international survey by the IAEA

G L Poli1, L Torres2, M Coca3

  • 1Dosimetry and Medical Radiation Physics Section, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria. g.luca.poli@gmail.com.

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
|December 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

A global survey by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found significant variability in paediatric nuclear medicine practices worldwide. While efforts exist to follow guidelines, administered activities and radiation doses, especially in CT scans, often exceed recommendations, highlighting a need for standardization.

Area of Science:

  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Paediatric Imaging
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Paediatric nuclear medicine practice varies globally, particularly in low and middle-income countries.
  • Previous surveys like the Nuclear Medicine Global Initiative (NMGI) highlighted existing practice variations.
  • Established guidelines for paediatric nuclear medicine exist but adherence is inconsistent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the current global status of paediatric nuclear medicine practice.
  • To identify differences in practice between regions, focusing on low and middle-income countries.
  • To evaluate adherence to established paediatric nuclear medicine guidelines.

Main Methods:

  • A survey was conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) involving 133 institutes across 62 member states.
  • Data collected included conventional nuclear medicine procedures (MDP, DSMA, MAG3, pertechnetate thyroid scans) and FDG PET/CT procedures.
  • Information on administered activities and CT dose-length product (DLP) was gathered.

Main Results:

  • Administered activities frequently exceeded recommendations for DMSA, MAG3, and pertechnetate studies.
  • Compliance with international standards was better for MDP studies.
  • FDG PET/CT showed more uniform results, but CT component exhibited high variability and high DLP values in some cases.

Conclusions:

  • Efforts are being made globally to comply with EANM or North American Consensus Guidelines.
  • Significant variability in paediatric nuclear medicine practice persists worldwide.
  • Recommendations are provided for global standardization of administered activity in paediatric nuclear medicine.
Abstract

Keywords:
Administered activityInternational multi-centre surveyPaediatric nuclear medicine

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