Occupational exposures in PET procedures with 18F-FDG in adult and pediatric patients

• Published in: Radiation physics and chemistry (Oxford, England : 1993) Vol. 189; p. 109744
• Main Authors: Belinato, Walmir, da Silva Pereira, Gessica, Santos, William S., Neves, Lucio P., Perini, Ana P., Souza, Divanizia N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: 18F-FDG; Drug dosages; Emitters; Exposure; Fluorine isotopes; Gamma rays; Monte Carlo simulation; Nuclear medicine; Nuclear safety; Occupational health; Pediatrics; PET dosimetry; Positron emission; Radiation; Radiation transport; Radioactive materials; Radiochemistry; Tomography; PET dosimetry; Monte Carlo simulation; 18F-FDG
• ISSN: 0969-806X; 1879-0895
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2021.109744

Diagnosis through positron emission tomography (PET) is an increasingly used procedure in cerebral, cardiac and especially oncology diseases. It is performed in nuclear medicine clinics, mainly using 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), which has one of the longest half-lives among positron emitters. The gamma rays, produced in the annihilations, require strict radiation control to guarantee the safety of the occupationally exposed individuals working in PET exam facilities. To evaluate occupational exposures, in this study, the MCNPX2.7.0 radiation transport code was used. The professionals were represented by the FASH3 (female) and MASH3 (male) adult virtual anthropomorphic phantoms, which have anthropometric characteristics like those of real individuals. Four exposure scenarios were modeled: radiopharmaceutical preparation, administration to the patient, patient follow-up, and patient placement in PET equipment. The results are presented in terms of the mean effective dose by PET procedure (μSv/procedure) and the mean effective dose by radiopharmaceutical activity (nSv/MBq). Using the set of conversion coefficients presented in this study, it is possible to calculate the absolute values of effective doses for nuclear medicine professionals who are in contact with the radioactive material or the patient. The differences between our study and the literature were only 3%. The effective occupational doses, with an adult patient, were 14% higher than those with pediatric patients. •We evaluated the occupational exposures with the MCNPX2.7.0 in PET procedures.•The patients were an adult and two children, represented as virtual phantoms.•The professionals were represented by adult virtual anthropomorphic phantoms.•It is possible to calculate the occupational effective doses.