Estimation of patient effective doses in PET/CT- 18F-Sodium Fluoride examinations.

The positron emitters (18F-Sodium Fluoride (NaF)) and X-rays used in Positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging have a high radiation dose, which results in a high patient dose. The present research intends to determine the radiation dose and risks associated with PET/CT- 18F-Sodium fluoride examinations in patients. The 18F-NaF PET/CT was used to investigate the doses of 86 patients. Patient exposure parameters and ImPACT software were used to calculate mean effective doses. The administered activity of 185 MBq (5.0 mCi) per procedure has a mean and range based on the patient's BMI (BMI). The range of patient effective doses per procedure was found to be 4-10 mSv, with a radiation risk of 1 × 10-5 per procedure. Patient doses are determined by the patient's size, scanner type, imaging protocol, and reconstruction method. For further dose reduction, proper justification and radiation dose optimization is required.

ASSESSMENT OF EXTERNAL OCCUPATIONAL DOSE OF PHOSPHATE MINE WORKERS IN SAUDI ARABIA USING THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSEMETERS.

Workers in the mining industry face the problem of radiation exposure from naturally occurring radioactive materials. Thus, this study aimed to estimate a Hp (10) doses for mine workers in the phosphate mining industry in Saudi Arabia. The personal dose equivalent [Hp (10)] of 606 mine workers in the phosphate mining industry in Saudi Arabia were obtained from 2016 to 2019 using thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLDs). The results showed that the annual mean Hp (10) of all mine workers averaged over the study period was 0.66 mSv (SD = 0.45), which is within the range of occupational doses reported worldwide. Most of the Hp (10) were <0.49 mSv, and the maximum Hp (10) was 3.55 mSv. Nonetheless, internal exposure should be evaluated along with external exposure to estimate a comprehensive baseline occupational dose for mine workers in the phosphate mining industry in Saudi Arabia.

INVESTIGATIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL RADIATION DOSE INCIDENTS RELATED TO MEDICAL PRACTICES IN SAUDI ARABIA.

This study aimed to investigate national incidents related to medical radiation practices in Saudi Arabia from 2015 to 2019, and the actions taken to deal with these cases. The radiation protection program of the Saudi Ministry of Health monitors occupational doses for medical staff. When the radiation doses exceed the assigned investigation levels, an investigation protocol should be followed to identify the reasons and present recommendations. A total of 96 cases of radiation doses were above the investigation levels; 70% above level I, and 30% above level II. These cases were found to be 44% overload exposure, 32% intentional exposure, 8% accidental/unintentional exposure and 16% dosimeter misadventure. The majority of cases (80%) were in 2015 and 2016 with a significant drop in cases following these 2 years mainly due to continuing education and training. Investigations of incidents and the actions taken contributed to improving the radiation protection program.