title: Radiation safety review for 511-keV emitters in nuclear medicine.
abstract: With the advent of high-energy collimators and dual-head coincidence cameras, standard nuclear medicine facilities will soon begin imaging with PET isotopes. The use of 511-keV emitters raises new radiation safety concerns for technologists traditionally limited to handling 99mTc and other low-energy isotopes. This article is a basic review of positron emitters, measurement concerns, exposure rates, shielding requirements and external radiation exposure mitigation. Newly developed PET shielding products are presented and regulatory status is discussed briefly.
authors.affiliation: Capintec, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA 15238, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dell
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D004867:Equipment Design; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation; D011868:Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013667:Technetium; D013679:Technology, Radiologic; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013667:Technetium