Title:Extremity Exposure with 99mTc - Labelled Radiopharmaceuticals in Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine
Volume: 14
Issue: 1
Author(s): Mpumelelo Nyathi*, Thabiso Maria Moeng and Doctor Paul A Maboe
Affiliation:
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria,South Africa
Keywords:
Finger doses, nuclear medicine, technetium-99m labelled radiopharmaceuticals, thermoluminescent dosimeters.
Abstract:
Background: Extremity exposures may raise the risk of cancer induction among radiographers
involved in the preparation and administration of technetium-99m labelled radiopharmaceuticals.
Objective: To estimate finger doses on radiographers at a South African tertiary hospital.
Methods: Adhesive tape was used to securely fix a calibrated thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD)
on fingertips and bases of ring and index fingers of both hands of five radiographers who prepared
and administered technetium-99m labelled radiopharmaceuticals. Rubber gloves were worn to
avoid TLD contamination. TLDs doses were read with a Harsaw TLD Reader (Model 3500) after a
week.
Results: Five radiographers prepared and administered technitium-99m labelled radiopharmaceuticals
(activity range; 78.20 GBq - 132.78 GBq during a one-week measurement period). A radiographer
handling 132.78 GBq received 4.74±0.52 mSv on both hands; 5.52, 4.55, 5.11 and 4.60 mSv
on the fingertip of the index finger of the dominant hand (FIDH), fingertip of the ring finger of the
dominant hand (FRDH), fingertip of the index finger of the non-dominant hand (FINDH) and fingertip
of the ring finger of the non-dominant hand (FRNDH), respectively. The respective doses received
on the finger bases were 4.50 mSv, 4.60, 4.21 and 3.48 mSv. The radiographer handling
78.20 GBq received 0.85±0.18 mSv on both hands, 1.04, 1.17, 0.77 and 1 mSv for the FIDH,
FRDH, FINDH and FRNDH, respectively, while respective doses for the bases were 0.8, 0.9, 0.6
and 0.8 mSv.
Conclusion: The extremity exposures were below the annual limit (500 mSv). However, the use of
syringe shields could still reduce the finger doses further.
