Study on the dose absorbed by radiographer in Nuclear Medicine for PET-CT methods and radiation protection. Technical aspects and ideas for effective protection standards.

Congress:

EuroSafe Imaging 2021

Poster Number:

ESI-12130

Type:

EuroSafe Imaging

Keywords:

Nuclear medicine, Radioprotection / Radiation dose, PET, PET-CT, Radiation effects, Radiation safety, Dosimetric comparison

Authors:

R. Filippo

DOI:

10.26044/esi2021/ESI-12130

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.26044/esi2021/ESI-12130

Purpose or learning objective

The study aims to measure, through a 5-month survey, the amount of dose absorbed by personnel operating in Nuclear Medicine and assigned, in rotation, to the PET-CT method. The purpose of the investigation was to assess the impact of staff shift rotation and compliance and application of good radiation protection standards for patients and staff in absorbing dose.

Methods or background

To carry out the investigation and the subsequent study, two portable Geiger-Muller meters were used, delivered and applied, respectively, to the TSRM and to the nurse assigned to each PET-CT session. The study was conducted entirely at the Nuclear Medicine Operational Unit of the "San Giuseppe Moscati" Hospital in Avellino. The data was recorded on an Excel sheet for the final statistics. The study was planned over 5 months, from May to October 2020, but is currently underway on all methods including traditional nuclear diagnostics...

Results or findings

The results of this study showed that the absorbed dose by each operator is, on average, between 3 and 4 microSieverts per work session, with peaks of 10 microSieverts in the case of non-autonomous and bedridden patients or, vice versa, of 2 microSieverts. in the case of autonomous patients. Remember that the average number of patients for each operator tends to be uniform at 7, with sessions ranging from 6 to 8 patients at a time. It has been seen how the trend of the...

Conclusion

The movement and rotation of personnel, as well as the application of good radiation protection standards, made it possible to reduce the absorbed dose to a minimum. This method, if applied over a longer period of time and also in the traditional diagnostic methods of Nuclear Medicine, already in place, provides for the annual exposure of workers at modest levels with effective protection from radiation and prevention of occupational exposure diseases. to ionizing radiation. In fact, based on raw data from the company's Occupational Physician,...

References

"San Giuseppe Moscati" Hospital of National Relief and High Specialty, Avellino U.O.C. Nuclear Medicine

Personal information and conflict of interest

R. Filippo: Author: Author

Fig 1: Geiger-Muller meter

Fig 2: Dose table in the period of study

Fig 3: Distance and radioprotection