Abstract for presentation at 38th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine 2008

Radiation Dose to PET Technologists and Ongoing Strategies to Reduce Occupational Exposure to Staff

  • Mrs Kunthi Pathmaraj, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
  • Ms Jessica Welch, Australia
  • Mr Jason Bradley, Centre for P.E.T., Austin Health, Australia
  • Mr Anthony Wallace, Australia
  • Mr Paul U, Australia
  • Dr Graeme O'Keefe, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Centre for P.E.T., Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
  • Dr Sam Berlangieri, Australia
  • Prof Andrew Scott, Australia

    • A rapid growth in PET scans at our centre has resulted in increased radiation doses to technologists.Using a real time personal dosimeter (AEGIS ED-2), we monitored the dose received by technologist per patient.


    Mean Dose (µSv) (2006)

    Dispensing 0.652±0.369
    Transportation 0.526±0.251
    Injection 2.333±0.873
    Accompany patient 0.393±0.517
    Patient Positioning 1.082±0.999



    Injection 2.5±1.0 µSv(2002/03) and 2.3±0.9 µSv (2006)


    We have previously published that the average radiation dose per annum to a PET technologist was 3.12 +/- 0.29mSv. These calculations were done in 2002/03 when patient numbers were 8 per day. In 2006/07 numbers have grown to 16 per day, and the dose to PET technologist has increased to 6.1 ± 1.2 mSv per year. However, the dose to technologist per patient (especially while injecting) has essentially remained unaltered suggesting that the increased radiation exposure is a direct result of increased throughput.

    Since most of the dose to staff is received during patient injections, we have taken measures to improve the shielding whilst injecting. In conjunction with Gammasonics, Australia, we have improvised the commercially available syriporter and fitted it with a lead barrier consisting of 10 mm lead and a 8 mm lead equivalent viewing window. Initial results indicate that the dose whilst injecting can be reduced by almost 80%. We are considering extending this technique and using mobile glass lead shields with similar lead equivalence to decrease radiation exposure during patient positioning. Reducing radiation exposure during injections and positioning is critical in keeping a check on the overall radiation exposures.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd