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Dundara Debeljuh D, Jurković S, Pribanić I, Poljak F, Kralik I, Krstonošić B, Bralić A, Bajan T, Božac Jokić O, Vidošević L, Kumrić D, Zrilić I, Šegota D, Diklić A, Smilović Radojčić Đ, Vassileva J. National survey to set diagnostic reference levels in nuclear medicine single photon emission imaging in Croatia. Phys Med 2020; 78:109-116. [PMID: 32956917 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2020.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE In order to introduce the concept of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in the national nuclear medicine practice a survey was proposed and completed through all nuclear medicine departments in Croatia. An additional aim was to increase the awareness of importance and full implementation of a comprehensive quality program that includes devices used in the nuclear medicine chain. METHODS Data were collected for more than 30 nuclear medicine single photon emission procedures. National DRLs (NDRLs) as administered activity and also as administered activity per unit mass were calculated in accordance to International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendations. Additionally, effective doses were estimated using conversion factors published by the ICRP. RESULTS NDRLs for nuclear medicine single photon emission procedures were proposed. For procedures performed in only one department typical values were presented as reference. Effective doses related to applied radiopharmaceuticals were calculated to estimate radiation risk related to respective nuclear medicine procedure in more detail. CONCLUSION This work presents results of the first national survey on DRLs of nuclear medicine single photon emission procedures and proposes reliable NDRLs that represent an actual status of nuclear medicine practice in Croatia. Results have motivated departments to introduce and set their own typical values to be used, as one of the tools, for further optimization process. One of the drawbacks of the DRL concept in nuclear medicine is the lack of the image quality parameters involved. For this reason, a quantity that considers both radiation protection and image quality should be introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dea Dundara Debeljuh
- University Hospital Rijeka, Department for Medical Physics and Radiation Protection, Krešimirova 42, Rijeka, Croatia; General Hospital Pula, Department of Radiology, Santoriova 24a, Pula, Croatia; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Nuclear Medicine Department, Braće Branchetta 20/1, Rijeka, Croatia.
| | - Slaven Jurković
- University Hospital Rijeka, Department for Medical Physics and Radiation Protection, Krešimirova 42, Rijeka, Croatia; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Ivan Pribanić
- University Hospital Rijeka, Department for Medical Physics and Radiation Protection, Krešimirova 42, Rijeka, Croatia; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Nuclear Medicine Department, Braće Branchetta 20/1, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Frano Poljak
- University Hospital Center Zagreb, Division of Medical Physics, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Protection, Kišpatićeva ulica 12, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Kralik
- University Hospital Dubrava, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Branislav Krstonošić
- Osijek University Hospital, Department of Medical Physics, Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, Croatia
| | - Ante Bralić
- University Hospital Centre Split, Department of Medical Physics, Spinčićeva 1, Split, Croatia
| | - Tamara Bajan
- University Clinical Hospital Center Sestre Milosrdnice, Department of Medical Physics, Vinogradska 29, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ondina Božac Jokić
- General Hospital Pula, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zagrebačka 34, Pula, Croatia
| | - Ljiljana Vidošević
- General Hospital Šibenik, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolic Diseases and Nuclear Medicine, Bože Peričića 16, 22000 Šibenik, Croatia
| | - Danijela Kumrić
- General Hospital Varaždin, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ivana Meštrovića 1, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia
| | - Ivana Zrilić
- General Hospital Zadar, Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Bože Peričića 5, 23000 Zadar, Croatia
| | - Doris Šegota
- University Hospital Rijeka, Department for Medical Physics and Radiation Protection, Krešimirova 42, Rijeka, Croatia; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Radiology Department, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Ana Diklić
- University Hospital Rijeka, Department for Medical Physics and Radiation Protection, Krešimirova 42, Rijeka, Croatia; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Đeni Smilović Radojčić
- University Hospital Rijeka, Department for Medical Physics and Radiation Protection, Krešimirova 42, Rijeka, Croatia; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Jenia Vassileva
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Radiation Protection of Patients Unit, Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100, 1400 Vienna, Austria
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