The Evaluation of External Dose Rate Measurements of Patients During and After F-18 FDG PET/CT Imaging and Appropriate Discharge Time from PET/CT Department

• Main Authors: Burçak Yılmaz Güneş, Özlem Erez, Cihan Gündoğan, Nurhan Ergül
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Galenos Yayinevi 2019-05-01
• Series: İstanbul Medical Journal
• Subjects: F-18 FDG; PET/CT; radiation safety; dose rate
• Online Access: http://imj.galenos.com.tr/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/the-evaluation-of-external-dose-rate-measurements-/21475

Introduction:F-18 radioisotope has higher photon energy when compared with other radioisotopes that are preferred in conventional imaging procedures in nuclear medicine. The aim of this study was to measure external radiation dose rate from patients injected with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and to determine appropriate discharge time after F-18 FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) procedure.Methods:Our study included 29 (M/F=9/20) patients who were referred to nuclear medicine department for F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging. Dose rates were measured at a distance of 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 m from patients via Geiger-Müller probe at 3 different time points: 1) Just after the intravenous injection of F-18 FDG, 2) before PET/CT imaging and 3) just before discharge of patients from PET/CT department. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the differences between measurements.Results:Patients were injected 291±62 megabecquerel (MBq) (range: 226-440 MBq) F-18 FDG via IV route. The patients stayed in nuclear medicine department for 70.3±13.8 min (range: 53 min-100 min) after injection of F-18 FDG. Radiation dose velocity measurements taken at a distance of 1 meter were 39.7±11.9 μSv/h just after the injection, 21.1±4.5 μSv/h before PET/CT examination and 14.3±2.9 μSv/h just before discharge.Conclusion:Although F-18 has high photon energy, its halflife is relatively short and this makes F-18 FDG an ideal radiopharmaceutical for PET/CT imaging. When the PET/CT scan is terminated, the dose rate measurements of the patients at a distance of 1 m are appropriate for discharge according to Turkish Atomic Energy Authority regulations. Therefore, patients can be safely discharged by explaining the necessary radiation safety measures after completing F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging.