title: Comparison of occupational radiation exposure from myocardial perfusion imaging with Rb-82 PET and Tc-99m SPECT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rubidium-82 (Rb-82) PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has superior diagnostic accuracy, at least similar prognostic value, and lower patient radiation exposure when compared with technetium-99m single-photon emission computed tomography (Tc-99m SPECT) MPI. The aim of this study was to compare occupational radiation exposure from the two modalities and show that improvements for the patient do not come at a cost to staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic personal dosimeters were worn by staff involved in the administration and imaging of routine clinical Tc-99m SPECT and Rb-82 PET MPI, and during tracer production and QC. To estimate dose to the staff in the event of a medical emergency, a survey meter was placed in close contact with the patient during Rb-82 infusion and imaging, and immediately after administration for Tc-99m SPECT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (SD) whole-body effective dose to staff during a single MPI procedure was 0.4 (0.4) μSv for Rb-82 PET (1110 MBq) and 3.3 (1.7) μSv for Tc-99m SPECT (350 MBq). Staff effective dose during tracer production and QC was low (<0.2 μSv/patient) and comparable between tracers. An additional effective dose was measured at close contact to the patient during, and immediately after, tracer administration, although this will not pose a significant radiation risk to staff with either technique as long as this is not routine practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a significant reduction in effective dose during Rb-82 PET when compared with Tc-99m SPECT MPI because of the short half-life of Rb-82 and reduced patient contact.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tout
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartley
authors.forename: Parthiban
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arumugam
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011874:Radiometry; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012414:Rubidium Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D013667:Technetium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012414:Rubidium Radioisotopes; D013667:Technetium