title: Interference of mobile phones and digitally enhanced cordless telecommunications mobile phones in renal scintigraphy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the potential negative impact of cellular phones and digitally enhanced cordless telecommunication (DECT) devices on the quality of static and dynamic scintigraphy to avoid repeated testing in infant and teenage patients to protect them from unnecessary radiation exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  The assessment was conducted by performing phantom measurements under real conditions. A functional renal-phantom acting as a pair of kidneys in dynamic scans was created. Data were collected using the setup of cellular phones and DECT phones placed in different positions in relation to a camera head to test the potential interference of cellular phones and DECT phones with the cameras.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cellular phones reproducibly interfered with the oldest type of gamma camera, which, because of its single-head specification, is the device most often used for renal examinations. Curves indicating the renal function were considerably disrupted; cellular phones as well as DECT phones showed a disturbance concerning static acquisition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variable electromagnetic tolerance in different types of γ-cameras could be identified. Moreover, a straightforward, low-cost method of testing the susceptibility of equipment to interference caused by cellular phones and DECT phones was generated. Even though some departments use newer models of γ-cameras, which are less susceptible to electromagnetic interference, we recommend testing examination rooms to avoid any interference caused by cellular phones. The potential electromagnetic interference should be taken into account when the purchase of new sensitive medical equipment is being considered, not least because the technology of mobile communication is developing fast, which also means that different standards of wave bands will be issued in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiologic Technology, University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, Austria. armin.stegmayr@fhg-tirol.ac.at
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stegmayr
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fessl
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hörtnagl
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcadella
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perkhofer
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*