Radiation protection for patients Book Section


Authors: Dauer, L. T.; Mattsson, S.; Vañó, E.; Yonekura, Y.
Editors: Volterrani, D.; Erba, P. A.; Carrió, I.; Strauss, H. W.; Mariani, G.
Article/Chapter Title: Radiation protection for patients
Abstract: The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) has identified that medical exposures represent the largest human-made source of radiation exposure, accounting for more than 95% of radiation exposure [1]. Traditional nuclear medicine procedures (both imaging and therapy) represent about 1–5% or more of all medical imaging depending on the country [1, 2] and contribute significantly to the overall collective effective dose from diagnostic procedures. With the advent of hybrid imaging technologies, such as positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT), and most recently magnetic resonance imaging paired with PET (PET/MRI), the numbers of procedures employing radiopharmaceuticals will likely increase. Currently, the total number of nuclear medicine examinations is estimated at more than 35 million per year [3]. Along with broader usage and larger numbers of procedures comes an increasing responsibility for ensuring the many beneficial uses of radiation while preventing or minimizing detrimental radiation effects. The aim is to achieve the clinical purpose of the medical imaging and therapy with constant vigilance on overall safety. In nuclear medicine facilities, such conditions demand rigorous radiation protection programs that extend to patients, medical staff, and members of the public, as well as caretakers and comforters of the patients undergoing procedures. This chapter presents important considerations for radiation protection of the nuclear medicine patient. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords: positron emission tomography; magnetic resonance imaging; radiotherapy; diagnostic imaging; radiation exposure; radiology; computerized tomography; radiation effects; diagnosis; nuclear medicine; photons; medical computing; radiation protection; breast feeding; medical image processing; accidental exposure; as low as reasonably achievable; justification of medical exposure; medical exposures to radiation; optimization of radiation protection; radiation exposure and breast-feeding; radiation exposure and conception; radiation exposure during pregnancy; radiation protection precautions; therapy with radionuclides; unintended exposure; accidental exposures; medical exposure to radiation; radiation protection precaution; therapy with radionuclide
Book Title: Nuclear Medicine Textbook: Methodology and Clinical Applications
ISBN: 978-3-319-95563-6
Publisher: Springer Science + Business Media, LLC  
Publication Place: Cham, Switzerland
Date Published: 2019-01-01
Start Page: 261
End Page: 272
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-95564-3_12
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Book Chapter: 12, part of "Part I - Basic Science" -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Lawrence Dauer
    173 Dauer