Radiation protection of PET/CT staff

Overview

Automatic injection device is currently used for most examinations except immobile patients at PET/CT department in Nový Jičín. Relative average dose of 3.62 μSv/GBq for staff member was measured in the first months of the year 2013 before introduction of this device. Dose calculation express a value of personal dose equivalent Hp (10) in relation to 1 GBq injected to patients. Dose was reduced to 1.69 μSv/GBq after introduction of this device still during this year. Relative average dose was further reduced during next two years to 1.35 μSv/GBq in the year 2014 and 1.32 μSv/GBq in the year 2015. Measurements were performed with an electronic dosimeter placed on the left side of the thorax of all staff members who came into contact with a radiopharmaceutical of injected patient. Operational measurement was performed in any person who injected radiopharmaceutical of approximately 300 MBq. 1 μSv was detected in 90 % during one injection while 2 or more μSv were detected during hand-operated injection of the same activity. Our optimization also decreased skin dose equivalent normalized to 1 GBq from 278 μSv/GBq to 145 μSv/GBq.

Key Words:
PET/CT, radiation protection, optimization