A Study of Decrease Exposure Dose for the Radiotechnologist in PET/CT

Abstract

Positron emission tomography scan has been growing diagnostic equipment in the development of medical imaging system. Compare to 99mTc emitting 140 keV, Positron emission radionuclide emits 511 keV gamma rays. Because of this high energy, it needs to reduce radioactive emitting from patients for radio technologist. We searched the external dose rates by changing distance from patients and measure the external dose rates when we used shielder investigate change external dose rates. In this study, the external dose distribution were analyzed in order to help managing radiation protection of radio technologists. Ten patients were searched (mean age: 47.7 ± 6.6, mean height: 165.5 ± 3.8 cm, mean weight: 65.9 ± 1.4 kg). Radiation was measured on the location of head, chest, abdomen, knees and toes at the distance of 10, 50, 100, 150, and 200 cm, respectively. Then, all the procedure was given with a portable radiation shielding on the location of head, chest, and abdomen at the distance of 100, 150, and 200 cm and transmittance was calculated.In 10 cm, head (105.40 μSv/h) was the highest and foot(15.85 μSv/h) was the lowest. In 200 cm, head, chest, and abdomen showed similar. On head, the measured dose rates were 9.56 µSv/h, 5.23 µSv/h, and 3.40 µSv/h in 100, 150, and 200 cm, respectively. When using shielder, it shows 2.24 µSv/h, 1.67 µSv/h, and 1.27 µSv/h in 100, 150, and 200 cm on head. On chest, the measured dose rates were 8.54 µSv/h, 4.90 µSv/h, 3.44 µSv/h in 100, 150, and 200 cm, respectively. When using shielder, it shows 2.27 µSv/h, 1.34 µSv/h, and 1.13 µSv/h in 100, 150, and 200 cm on chest. On abdomen, the measured dose rates were 9.83 µSv/h, 5.15 µSv/h, and 3.18 µSv/h in 100, 150, and 200 cm, respectively. When using shielder, it shows 2.60 µSv/h, 1.75 µSv/h, and 1.23 µSv/h in 100, 150, and 200 cm on abdomen. Transmittance was increased as the distance was expanded.As the distance was further, the radiation dose were reduced. When using shielder, the dose were reduced as one-forth of without shielder. The Radio technologists are exposed of radioactivity and there were limitations on re-ducing the distance with Therefore, the proper shielding will be able to decrease radiation dose to the technologists.