Nuclear medicine: workplace monitoring and internal occupational exposure during a ventilation/perfusion single-photon emission tomography

Martínez, J.; Baciu, Tatiana; Artigues, Manel; Danús, M.; Peñalver, A.; Aguilar, Carme; Borrull, Francesc

doi:10.1007/s00411-019-00798-x

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Predominantly, atomized DTPA or Technegas (ultrafine dispersion of 99m Tc labeled carbon) are used. Previous research projects proved that during inhalation of gas marked with 99m Tc, part of its activity leaks into the room air and may pose a risk for medical team that performs tests (Martinez et al 2019 ; Brudecki et al 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

99mTc internal contaminations measurements among nuclear medicine medical personnel during ventilation – perfusion SPECT lung scans

Borkowska

Brudecki

Kostkiewicz

et al. 2021

Radiat Environ Biophys

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This paper presents results of measurements of 99mTc activity concentration in air and nuclear medical personnel blood during ventilation–perfusion SPECT lung scans. 99mTc activity measurements were conducted at the Nuclear Medicine Department, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow. Technicians and nurses who perform examinations were equipped with personal aspirators enabling air sampling to determine the radiation exposure at their workplaces. Measurements allowed to evaluate the concentration of 99mTc in 14 air samples and it ranged from 7800 ± 600 to 10,000 ± 1000 Bq m−3 for air samples collected by technicians and from 390 ± 30 to 600 ± 40 Bq m−3 for air samples collected by nurses. In addition 99mTc concentrations in blood of medical personnel were determined in 24 samples. For technicians the maximum 99mTc blood concentration levels reached 920 ± 70 Bq L−1 and 1300 ± 100 Bq L−1. In the case of nurses, the maximum estimated activity concentrations were about ten times lower, namely 71 ± 7 Bq L−1 and 39 ± 3 Bq L−1. Although the intakes appear to be relatively high, the resulting annual effective doses are about 34 µSv for technicians and only 2 µSv for nurses.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

99mTc internal contaminations measurements among nuclear medicine medical personnel during ventilation – perfusion SPECT lung scans

Borkowska

Brudecki

Kostkiewicz

et al. 2021

Radiat Environ Biophys

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“…Fourth, we cannot assert that the collection of air samples is an exact representation of aerosolized particles inhaled by the technologist. However, the use of an aerosol collector is a common method for air contamination studies ( 22 , 23 , 30 ). Most importantly, similar collection method was used for Tc and Ga aerosols, allowing the comparison between both procedures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiation exposure to nuclear medicine technologists performing a V/Q PET: Comparison with conventional V/Q scintigraphy, [18F]FDG PET and [68Ga]Ga DOTATOC PET procedures

et al. 2022

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IntroductionVentilation/Perfusion (V/Q) PET/CT is an emerging imaging modality for regional lung function evaluation. The same carrier molecules as conventional V/Q scintigraphy are used but they are radiolabelled with gallium-68 (68Ga) instead of technetium-99m (99mTc). A recurrent concern regarding V/Q PET imaging is the radiation dose to the healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the total effective dose and the finger dose received by the technologist when performing a V/Q PET procedure, and to compare them with the radiations doses received with conventional V/Q scintigraphy, FDG PET and Ga DOTATOC PET procedures.Materials and methodsThe whole body dose measurement was performed 10 times for each of the evaluated procedures using an electronic personal dosimeter (ED). For V/Q PET and V/Q scintigraphy procedures, ventilation and perfusion stages were separately evaluated. Internal exposure was measured for ventilation procedures. Finger dose measurements were performed 5 times for each of the PET procedures using Thermoluminescence (TL) pellets.ResultsThe technologist effective dose when performing a V/Q PET procedure was 2.83 ± 0.67 μSv, as compared with 1.16 ± 0.34 μSv for conventional V/Q scintigraphy, 2.13 ± 0.77 μSv for [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC, and 2.86 ± 1.79 μSv for FDG PET procedures, respectively. The finger dose for the V/Q PET procedure was similar to the dose for a [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC scan (0.35 mSv and 0.32 mSv, respectively).ConclusionThe technologist total effective dose for a V/Q PET procedure is ~2.4 higher than the dose for a conventional V/Q scintigraphy, but in the same range than the radiation exposure when performing common PET procedures, both in terms of total effective dose or finger dose. These results should be reassuring for the healthcare workers performing a V/Q PET procedure.

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“…The obtained results of 99m Tc activity in workplaces were convergent with the results of 99m Tc activity in blood samples (maximum value 1300 Bq L −1 [6]). The similarity of the equipment and procedures used by these medical personnel to those used all over the world allows us to assume that the issue of 99m Tc internal contamination during ventilation-perfusion SPECT lung scans is worldwide, which is confirmed by the literature data [7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Reduction in radioactive internal contamination by 99mTc among medical personnel in nuclear medicine facilities with the use of respiratory tract protection measures

Brudecki

Borkowska

Gorzkiewicz

et al. 2022

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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The main objective of the present publication was to assess the reduction of internal radioactive contamination with 99mTc among medical personnel of nuclear medicine facilities using generally available respiratory tract protection systems. During the current research project, four respiratory tract protection systems were tested by estimation of 99mTc activity levels in blood samples collected from medical personnel. Medical staff were equipped with a disposable surgical mask, a half mask with gas absorbers, a half mask with aerosol absorbers and a half mask with gas absorbers with added Petryanov filter. The presented results indicate that wearing only a disposable surgical mask may significantly reduce radioactive internal contamination among medical personnel and improve their safety in the workplace. The best results of reduced 99mTc concentration in the blood were achieved by the use of a half mask with gas absorbers with added Pertryanov filters and a half mask with aerosol absorbers, where the reduction factors were estimated at 90% and 80%, respectively. Respiratory tract protection systems should become standard equipment for medical personnel performing ventilation–perfusion SPECT lung scans.

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Nuclear medicine: workplace monitoring and internal occupational exposure during a ventilation/perfusion single-photon emission tomography

Cited by 8 publications

References 24 publications

99mTc internal contaminations measurements among nuclear medicine medical personnel during ventilation – perfusion SPECT lung scans

99mTc internal contaminations measurements among nuclear medicine medical personnel during ventilation – perfusion SPECT lung scans

Radiation exposure to nuclear medicine technologists performing a V/Q PET: Comparison with conventional V/Q scintigraphy, [18F]FDG PET and [68Ga]Ga DOTATOC PET procedures

Reduction in radioactive internal contamination by 99mTc among medical personnel in nuclear medicine facilities with the use of respiratory tract protection measures

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