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Updated: Sep 30, 2025
09:03
Radiotracer Administration for High Temporal Resolution Positron Emission Tomography of the Human Brain: Application to FDG-fPET
Published on: October 22, 2019
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Radiation dose to nuclear medicine technologists when operating PET/MR compared with PET/CT
Marine Soret1,2, Jacques-Antoine Maisonobe1,2, Stéphane Payen1
1AP-HP Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Médecine Nucléaire, F-75013 Paris, France.
Summary
Nuclear medicine technologists receive higher radiation doses when operating positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) scanners compared to PET/computed tomography (CT). This increased exposure during PET/MR procedures is linked to longer patient contact times, particularly for whole-body scans.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiological Sciences
- Medical Imaging Technology
Background:
- Positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) is increasingly used in clinical settings since 2010.
- PET/MR offers lower radiation doses to patients compared to PET/computed tomography (PET/CT).
- Data on radiation exposure for staff operating PET/MR versus PET/CT is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the radiation dose received by nuclear medicine technologists operating PET/MR and PET/CT systems.
- To identify factors contributing to radiation exposure differences between PET/MR and PET/CT.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of electronic personal dosimeter measurements from PET technologists over 13 months.
- Data collected included number of PET/MR and PET/CT studies, type of exploration (brain/whole-body), injected Fluorine-18 (18F) activity, and staff-patient contact time.
- Comparison between PET/MR (Signa 3T) and PET/CT (Biograph mCT flow) modalities.
Main Results:
- Technologists received significantly higher whole-body radiation exposure for PET/MR compared to PET/CT (10.3 ± 3.5 nSv vs. 4.7 ± 1.2 nSv per 18F injected MBq; p < 0.05).
- PET/MR exposure was approximately double that of PET/CT for equivalent injected activity.
- Prolonged patient contact during positioning and MR coil placement, especially for whole-body PET/MR studies, contributed to higher doses.
Conclusions:
- Nuclear medicine technologists face higher radiation exposure when operating PET/MR compared to PET/CT.
- Optimizing patient positioning and workflow is crucial to minimize staff radiation dose during PET/MR examinations.
- These findings are relevant for nuclear medicine departments transitioning to or expanding PET/MR services.
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