EFFECTIVE RADIATION DOSE TO STAFF MEMBERS DUE TO MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION SPECT IMAGING: TRACKING THE EXPOSURE FROM PREPARATION TO PATIENT RELEASE

The aim of the work was to tack the radiation exposure from dose preparation down to patient release during nuclear cardiac imaging. A total of 111 patients were recruited and external exposure was measured using a standard calibrated survey meter. Five phases have been determined including dose preparation, injection, post-injection, patient setup and patient release. An average effective dose of 0.87 +/- 0.2, 8.1 +/- 2.0, 12.3 +/- 2.1, 8.7 +/- 1.9 and 7.1 +/- 1.3 mu Sv were recorded as staff external exposure due to patient injection, post-injection (rest), recovery phase (stress), patient setup and patient release, respectively. On average, patient-to-staff effective dose rate coefficient was 0.04 +/- 0.007 mu Sv MBq/m(2) h. Post-stress phase is the most critical time point where staff members receive the highest radiation dose. The study has mapped the relative contribution of radiation doses and can also be used as simple prediction model in facility design and local rules as well as safety measure.