Using Statistical Assumptions to Set Reference Levels for Adult Diagnosis Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET CT)

Abstract

Author(s): Nor El Houda Baghous, Morad El Kafhali, Guensi Amal, Idbelkas Brahim, El Mahjoub Chakir, Saif Serag, Azougagh Mo-hamed, Musherah Naji AL-suhbani, Sara Taleb

Radioprotection of patients is based on the principle of justification and optimization to reduce the doses delivered to patients. Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) are one of the many effective tools for optimizing nuclear medicine examinations, which do not should be exceeded, but should be approached close to an “optimal dose” in order to reduce patient exposure. In this work were collected information on dose, patient demographics, equipment details, and acquisition protocols for Fluoride-18 Fluorideoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/ CT procedures, to study the administered activities of radiopharmaceuticals and radiation doses from hybrid Computed Tomography (CT) accompanied by Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/CT. We determined the DRLs based on 75th percentile, although DRLs obtained in this work for administered activity (244MBq), and Dose-Length Product (DLP) (453.29mGy.cm) are acceptable compared to the international DRLs. The effective dose of FDG and additional diagnostic CT scans were identified separately, the total effective dose was reported for whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT. Although the DRLs determined in this study are acceptable compared to European DRLs.

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