Quality Improvement in Health Care (한국의료질향상학회지)

Korean Society for Quality in Health Care (한국의료질향상학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Solution to Decrease Spatial Dose Rate in Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine through System Improvement

시스템 개선을 통한 핵의학 검사실의 공간 선량률 감소방안

  • Moon, Jae-Seung (Department of Nuclear Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, Catholic University) ;
  • Shin, Min-Yong (Department of Nuclear Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, Catholic University) ;
  • Ahn, Seong-Cheol (Department of Nuclear Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, Catholic University) ;
  • Yoo, Mun-Gon (Department of Nuclear Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, Catholic University) ;
  • Kim, Su-Geun (Department of Nuclear Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, Catholic University)
  • 문재승 (가톨릭대학교 성빈센트병원 핵의학과) ;
  • 신민용 (가톨릭대학교 성빈센트병원 핵의학과) ;
  • 안성철 (가톨릭대학교 성빈센트병원 핵의학과) ;
  • 유문곤 (가톨릭대학교 성빈센트병원 핵의학과) ;
  • 김수근 (가톨릭대학교 성빈센트병원 핵의학과)
  • Received : 2014.02.19
  • Accepted : 2014.06.02
  • Published : 2014.07.11
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims at decreasing spatial dose rate through work improvement whilst spatial dose rate is the cause of increasing personal exposure dose which occurs in the process of handling radioisotope. Methods: From February 2013 until July 2013, divided into "before" and "after" the improvement, spatial dose rate in laboratory of nuclear medicine was measured in gamma image room, PET/CT-1 image room, and PET/CT-2 image room as its locations. The measurement time was 08:00, 12:00 and 17:00, and SPSS 21.0 USA was opted for its statistical analysis. Result: The spatial dose rate at distribution worktable, injection table, the entrance to the distribution room, and radioisotope storage box, which had showed high spatial dose rate, decreased by more than 43.7% a monthly average. The distribution worktable, that had showed the highest spatial dose rate in PET/CT-1 image room, dropped the rate to 42.3% as of July. The injection table and distribution worktable in the PET/CT-2 image room also showed the decline of spatial dose rate to 89% and 64.4%, respectively. Conclusion: By improving distribution process and introducing proper radiation shielding material, we were able to drop the spatial dose rate substantially at distribution worktable, injection table, and nuclide storage box. However, taking into account of steadily increasing amount of radioisotope used, strengthening radiation related regulations, and safe utilization of radioisotope, the process of system improvement needs to be maintained through continuous monitoring.

Keywords

References

  1. Kang CG, Oh KB, Park HH, Oh SH, Park MS, Kim JY, et al. A Study on the Individual Radiation Exposure of Medical Facility Nuclear Workers by Job. The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology 2010;14(2):9-16.
  2. Lim CS, Kim SH, A Study on the Radiation Dose Managements in the Nuclear Medicine Department, Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society 2009;10(7):1760-5. https://doi.org/10.5762/KAIS.2009.10.7.1760
  3. Cho YG, Kim SC, Ahn SM, Measuring External Radiation Dose Ratio by Traits of Patients during Positron Emission Tomography(PET), The Journal of the Korea Contents Association 2013;13(12):860-8. https://doi.org/10.5392/JKCA.2013.13.12.860
  4. ICRP, ICRP Publication 78: Individual Monitoring for Internal Exposure of Workers: Annals of the ICRP Volume 27/3-4, Replacement of ICRP Publication 54, 1998.
  5. 원자력안전법, May of 2014, Pub. L. No.12666, Article 2, Paragraph 21.(March 23, 2013)
  6. Moon JS, Jeong HS, Kim SG, Kim HK, Kim HS, Lee HN, et al. A Study on the Surface Contamination Level and Spatial Dose Rate Measured from NM Patients-Only Bathroom. The Korean journal of nuclear medicine technology 2012;16(1):38-43.
  7. 원자력안전법, May of 2014, Pub. L. No.12666, Article 2, Paragraph 16.(March 23, 2013)
  8. 방사선 안전관리 등의 기술기준에 관한 규칙, December of 2008, 교육과학술부령 제24호, Article 3.(March 4, 2008)
  9. 원자력안전법 시행령, May of 2014, 대통령령 No.24689, Article 148.(August 16, 2013)
  10. Kim SJ, Han E. Changes in External Radiation Dose Rate for PET-CT Test Patients. Journal of radiation protection June 2012;37(2):103-7. https://doi.org/10.14407/jrp.2012.37.2.103
  11. Benatar NA, Cronin BF, O'Doherty MJ. Radiation dose rates from patients undergoing PET: implication for technologists and waiting areas. Eur J Nucl Med 2000;27(5):583-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002590050546
  12. Roberts FO, Gunawardana DH, Pathmaraj K, Wallace A, U PL, Mi T, Berlangieri SU, O'Keefe GJ, Rowe CC, Scott AM. Radiation dose to PET technologists strategies to lower occupational exposure. J Nucl Med Technol 2005;33(1):44-7.