Current Situation of Nuclear Medicine in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives:Asurvey of nuclear medicine services in Saudi Arabia carried out to provide a baseline data information about the practice of Nuclear medicine (NM) by the beginning of 2018. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was sent to every NM department in Saudi Arabia. Information requested included the equipment, manpower and type of examinations performed. Results:All the 58 NM services in Saudi Arabia had responded to the questionnaire by October 2018. The overall functioning manpower included 65 NM physicians, 190 NM technologists, 41 nuclear physicists, and only 9 radio pharmacists. At the end of year 2017 there were 21 PET/CT machines in Saudi Arabia (15 machines in Riyadh, 4 in Dammam and 2 in Jeddah), 55 SPECT/CT, 35 SPECT and Gamma camera Machines, and 77 DEXAmachines. When adjusted to population, we found 0.6 PET/CT Unit per 1 M people, 3.4 total units (PET and SPECT Cameras) per 1 M people. Conclusion: The need for reorganizing the distribution of nuclear medicine services including the cyclotrons to cover the whole kingdom equally. Activation of Saudi Society of Nuclear Medicine (SSNM) is mandatory for establishing well recognized Nuclear medicine residency training program including other academic and scientific activities.

Radiation Dose Assessment for Myocardial Perfusion Imaging: A Single Institution Survey

“…The CT radiation doses delivered for a one-day stress/rest 82 RB PET/CT MPI scan were compared with the available published NDRL data on combined CT from 99m Tc SPECT/CT 18 F-FDG PET/CT MPI scans ( Table 3 ). It is noteworthy that the derived 50th percentile dose for the CT portion within the framework of the 82 RB PET/CT procedure was more than other published CT doses used for AC, AC-AL, and diagnostic CT, including those for Germany in 2022, the Nordic countries in 2019, Japan in 2020, and Switzerland in 2018 [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. However, it is difficult to precisely decipher the probable reason for disparities in CTDI vol and DLP values across different NDRL methods vis-à-vis those in our study because of the unavailability of details on CT acquisition parameters.…”

“…NM services in Saudi Arabia are provided by many health sector establishments. In 2017, there were 21 PET/CT scanners, 55 SPECT/CT scanners, and 35 gamma camera SPECT systems at healthcare facilities across the country [ 18 ]. Approximately 12,387 MPI NM scans were implemented in 2017 at multiple NM departments and centres spread over 13 administrative areas [ 18 ].…”

“…In 2017, there were 21 PET/CT scanners, 55 SPECT/CT scanners, and 35 gamma camera SPECT systems at healthcare facilities across the country [ 18 ]. Approximately 12,387 MPI NM scans were implemented in 2017 at multiple NM departments and centres spread over 13 administrative areas [ 18 ]. However, published NDRL or LDRL methods for MPI SPECT/CT and PET/CT scans in Saudi Arabia are not yet available.…”

Enhancing Nuclear Medicine Practice in Saudi Arabia: Advocating for Comprehensive Guidelines and Local Diagnostic Reference Levels

“…In Saudi Arabia, 51 nuclear medicine centers operate under the Ministry of Health, governmental sectors, and private hospitals [1]. These centers conduct approximately 37,655 general nuclear medicine investigations and 12,387 cardiac scans annually.…”

“…These centers conduct approximately 37,655 general nuclear medicine investigations and 12,387 cardiac scans annually. According to a 2018 survey, the country is equipped with 21 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) machines, 55 single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) machines, and 35 SPECT and gamma cameras [1].…”