title: Occupational radiation exposure of medical staff performing ⁹⁰Y-loaded microsphere radioembolization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radioembolization of liver cancer with (90)Y-loaded microspheres is increasingly used but data regarding hospital staff exposure are scarce. We evaluated the radiation exposure of medical staff while preparing and injecting (90)Y-loaded glass and resin microspheres especially in view of the increasing use of these products.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exposure of the chest and finger of the radiopharmacist, nuclear medicine physician and interventional radiologist during preparation and injection of 78 glass microsphere preparations and 16 resin microsphere preparations was monitored. Electronic dosimeters were used to measure chest exposure and ring dosimeters were used to measure finger exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chest exposure was very low for both products used (<10 μSv from preparation and injection). In our experience, finger exposure was significantly lower than the annual limit of 500 mSv for both products. With glass microspheres, the mean finger exposure was 13.7 ± 5.2 μSv/GBq for the radiopharmacist, and initially 17.9 ± 5.4 μSv/GBq for the nuclear medicine physician reducing to 13.97 ± 7.9 μSv/GBq with increasing experience. With resin microspheres, finger exposure was more significant: mean finger exposure for the radiopharmacist was 295.1 ± 271.9 μSv/GBq but with a reduction with increasing experience to 97.5 ± 35.2 μSv/GBq for the six most recent dose preparations. For administration of resin microspheres, the greatest mean finger exposure for the nuclear medicine physician (the most exposed operator) was 235.5 ± 156 μSv/GBq.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical staff performing (90)Y-loaded microsphere radioembolization procedures are exposed to safe levels of radiation. Exposure is lower than that from treatments using (131)I-lipiodol. The lowest finger exposure is from glass microspheres. With resin microspheres finger exposure is acceptable but could be optimized in accordance with the ALARA principle, and especially in view of the increasing use of radioembolization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Institute, Centre Eugène Marquis, CS 44229, F-35042, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laffont
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, Cancer Institute, Centre Eugène Marquis, CS 44229, F-35042, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rolland
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Institute, Centre Eugène Marquis, CS 44229, F-35042, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ardisson
authors.affiliation: University of Rennes 1, F-35043, Rennes, France.|Department of Medical Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Institute Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France.|Liver Metabolisms and Cancer, INSERM, U-991, F-35033, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Edeline
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Institute Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pracht
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Institute Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Le Sourd
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, Cancer Institute, Centre Eugène Marquis, CS 44229, F-35042, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Tanguy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rohou
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Institute, Centre Eugène Marquis, CS 44229, F-35042, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lenoir
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Institute, Centre Eugène Marquis, CS 44229, F-35042, Rennes, France.|Liver Metabolisms and Cancer, INSERM, U-991, F-35033, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lepareur
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Institute, Centre Eugène Marquis, CS 44229, F-35042, Rennes, France. e.garin@rennes.unicancer.fr.|University of Rennes 1, F-35043, Rennes, France. e.garin@rennes.unicancer.fr.|Liver Metabolisms and Cancer, INSERM, U-991, F-35033, Rennes, France. e.garin@rennes.unicancer.fr.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005385:Fingers / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D008863:Microspheres; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000592:standards; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000592:standards; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D060726:Torso / Q000528:radiation effects; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes
keywords: 90Y; Exposure; Microspheres; Radioembolization