Algorithm for Reducing Overall Biological Detriment Caused by PET/CT: an Age-Based Study.
Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2023;
57:137-144. [PMID:
37181801 PMCID:
PMC10172419 DOI:
10.1007/s13139-023-00788-4]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose
This study is to use a simple algorithm based on patient's age to reduce the overall biological detriment associated with PET/CT.
Materials and Methods
A total of 421 consecutive patients (mean age 64 ± 14 years) undergoing PET for various clinical indications were enrolled. For each scan, effective dose (ED in mSv) and additional cancer risk (ACR) were computed both in a reference condition (REF) and after applying an original algorithm (ALGO). The ALGO modified the mean dose of FDG and the PET scan time parameters; indeed, a lower dose and a longer scan time were reported in the younger, while a higher dose and a shorter scan time in the older patients. Moreover, patients were classified by age bracket (18-29, 30-60, and 61-90 years).
Results
The ED was 4.57 ± 0.92 mSv in the REF condition. The ACR were 0.020 ± 0.016 and 0.0187 ± 0.013, respectively, in REF and ALGO. The ACR for the REF and ALGO conditions were significantly reduced in males and females, although it was more evident in the latter gender (all p < 0.0001). Finally, the ACR significantly reduced from the REF condition to ALGO in all three age brackets (all p < 0.0001).
Conclusion
Implementation of ALGO protocols in PET can reduce the overall ACR, mainly in young and female patients.
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