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Updated: Aug 8, 2025

A Whole Body Dosimetry Protocol for Peptide-Receptor Radionuclide Therapy PRRT: 2D Planar Image and Hybrid 2D+3D SPECT/CT Image Methods
Published on: April 24, 2020
CANCER RISK ESTIMATION FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING WHOLE-BODY PET/CT SCANS
Aida Kessara1, Nihal Buyukcizmeci2, Gonca Kara Gedik3
1Department of Physics, Institute of Science, University of Selcuk, 42130 Konya, Türkiye.
Abstract:
The objective of this paper was to compute the effective dose, as well as the lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of cancer related to whole-body positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scan for 193 adult patients. The mean effective dose for all patients from a single PET/CT scan was 20.6 mSv. For males aged 40 y, a single PET/CT scan is associated with a LAR of cancer incidence of 0.169%. This risk increased to 0.85% if an annual surveillance protocol for 5 y was performed. For female patients aged 40 y, the LAR of cancer mortality increased from 0.126 to 0.63% if an annual surveillance protocol for 5 y was performed. Since PET/CT scans are associated with a high dose and a risk of developing cancer, it was important to balance the advantages and risks before conducting any scans. This is especially important for younger patients and those who are overweight.
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