Abstract:
Objective To calculate the radiation dose to people including inquiry physicians, attending physicians, and family/nursing personnel who were around the patients undergoing 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computerized tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) examination, and estimate the radiation exposure using whole-body effective dose.
Methods A reference phantom model and a radiation model were established by Monte Carlo Method. Based on the derived equivalent doses of each organ by simulation calculation using grouping patient-accompanying personnel data, whole-body effective dose was calculated by adding tissue weighting factor. Obtained results were compared to the national standard norm to evaluate the radiation exposure to patient-accompanying personnel.
Results The average annual effective doses of inquiry physicians, attending physicians, and family/nursing personnel were 0.55, 8.0& #215;10-5, and 2.0& #215;10-2 mSv, respectively, much lower than the medical staff (20 mSv/a) and individual (1 mSv/a) dose limits recommended by national standard norm.
Conclusion The patients ordered 18F-FDG PET/CT examination exert little radiation to their surroundings.