Zeena Kadhum Hasan
Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
Samar Omran Issa
Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
ABSTRACT
Nuclear medicine staff are routinely exposed to ionizing radiation while preparing radioisotopes, administering them, and imaging patients. With radiation dangers growing with exposure, safety assessments are essential to ensure that practice adheres to international recommendations and dose limitations. The purpose of this study is to quantify staff exposures during specific molecular imaging methods, such as positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). We assessed the radiation exposure of technologists working on dose rate measurement with a dosimeter for cumulative dose confirmation. Occupational exposures for 15 nuclear medicine staff at three Iraqi hospitals were tracked over a period of 3 months. Whole body dose equivalent values were measured. In mSv, the respective mean effective dose in PET/CT and SPECT were 0.069 ± 0.086, and 0.066 ± 0.049, respectively. Extremity dosage values were, in all cases, much below the yearly dose limit. Still, given personnel dosages vary greatly, rigorous evaluation of working situations is advised to help to guarantee occupational exposures stay below annual dose limits.
Keywords: Nuclear Medicine; PET/CT, SPECT, Pocket Dosimeter, Radiation Dose.
