Differential Syringe Shield Effectiveness: Direct Comparisons Using SPECT and Planar Imaging

Abstract

The use of syringe shields in clinical nuclear medicine has been employed to reduce occupational exposure. However, there is little, current, comparative literature available for the diverse number of products available. I performed single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) acquisition on four different shields, and the results were quantitated in order to evaluate the percentage of counts relative to an unshielded source and to the other models tested. All models tested were found to significantly reduce available counts, with the thin-wall shield producing the highest number of counts at the viewing port and the tungsten shield being the least effective overall. I concluded that the intrinsic differences between model design and materials utilized determines the overall efficiency, and that this information is important in light of both the as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principle and biological model concepts.