Based On The Possible Radiation Dose That Radioactive Patients May Emit, Radiation Safety Precautions In Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine

Abstract

To determine the ideal radiation safety protocols for diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures by measuring the possible radiation dose released by patients who have recently had such procedures.
Materials and Procedures: Using a radiation detector, we measured the radiation doses released by 175 adult patients who received technetium-99m, iodine-131, and fluorine-18 radionuclides for scans of their bones, kidneys, hearts, brains, and entire bodies. Based on the amount of time that had passed since the radiopharmaceutical was administered, those values were used to assess the whole-body radiopharmaceutical clearance and the risk of radiation exposure to others. In conclusion : Precautionary steps to prevent radiation exposure are not necessary following diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures because the cumulative radiation doses that patients emit right after the procedure are significantly less than the limits set by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Commission on Radiological Protection.