Workflow-Based Radiation Protection During In-house 18F-FDG Production at a Hospital-based Cyclotron Facility

Automation limits operator contact during routine 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) production, but residual manual tasks and nonroutine interventions may still determine occupational exposure. This study quantified workflow-specific effective dose during in-house FDG production at a hospital-based cyclotron facility. Production records from 39 batches performed from 4 July to 23 August 2024 were reviewed. Two radiological technologists were monitored during seven routine production sessions, and five pharmacists were monitored during 10 quality-control (QC) observations. Semiconductor electronic pocket dosimeters were worn at the head, chest, and abdomen; effective dose was estimated from the three 1-cm dose equivalent readings using a nonuniform exposure formula. For technologists, average effective dose was 0.4 ± 0.1 µSv per session for cyclotron operation and synthesis, 0.2 ± 0.1 µSv for transport, 1.1 ± 0.3 µSv for cleaning, and 1.6 ± 0.3 µSv for the total routine workflow. The average pharmacist QC dose was 2.5 ± 1.2 µSv per observation. Two of 39 batches (5.1%) required a nonroutine intervention. Event-related effective doses were 32.2 µSv for manual recovery after QC vial-transfer failure and 30.7 and 31.6 µSv for two operators recovering residual FDG after incomplete transfer. These values were approximately 19-20 times the average total routine technologist dose. Routine exposure was low, whereas infrequent disruptions produced disproportionate exposure. Radiation protection should therefore combine routine monitoring with prevention, rehearsal, shielding, and time-minimized procedures for manual QC and nonroutine recovery.