We all know that exposures from PET doses have the potential to be high...

How high is high??

Dose Rate From Injection

•         Positron-emitting isotopes have high dose constants  
  

•         Hand dose can be very high  
  

•         Dose rate 5 cm from unshielded syringe with 555 MBq
  

•         (15 mCi) of F-18 is 33 mSv/hr (3300 mrem/hr)  
  

Reducing Hand Dose  

•         Tungsten syringe shield can reduce hand dose by 85%

Downside:

•         Extra weight (0.75 kg) can make it difficult to inject
   

•           Lead glass window in syringe shield can increase whole body dose to rise

       Other options:

•         Automatic dispensing systems

•         Divide responsibilities among staff

 

Many good products exist Good ideas can come from vendors and other PET facilities.

 

Radiation Safety and PET:The $20K Solution  

Dose Rates From Patient

American Association of Physicist in Medicine (AAPM) task group shows the patient dose rate for F-18:  

The expected dose rates from a patient are relatively high