TY - JOUR T1 - Development of Simple Methods to Reduce Radiation Exposure Rates to the Public from <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT Patients JF - Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology JO - J. Nucl. Med. Technol. DO - 10.2967/jnmt.119.233296 SP - jnmt.119.233296 AU - Razi Muzaffar AU - Elyse Koester AU - Sarah Frye AU - Saud Al-Enezi AU - Barbara Sterkel AU - Medhat M. Osman Y1 - 2019/10/01 UR - http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/early/2019/10/10/jnmt.119.233296.abstract N2 - At a time when reducing the radiation dose to patients and the public has become a major focus, we assessed the radiation exposure rate from patients after an 18F-FDG PET/CT scan and evaluated different interventions to reduce it. Methods: 100 patients were enrolled in the study. Radiation dose rates were measured with an Ionization Survey meter after the scan in all patients. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1- instructed to void then dose rates re-measured; Group 2a (pre-void)- wait 30 minutes then dose rates re-measured; Group 2b (post-void)- wait 30 minutes, void then dose rates re-measured. Results: 74/100 exceeded 20 μSv/h (2 mR/h) immediately after their scan. Group 1: mean dose rates decreased 20.0% from the post-scan measurement after voiding with 12/36 remaining at or above 20 μSv/h. Group 2a: mean dose rates decreased 23% from the post-scan measurement after waiting 30 minutes with 9/38 remaining at or above 20 μSv/h. Group 2b: mean dose rates decreased 35% from the post-scan measurement after waiting 30 minutes then voiding with 1/38 remaining at 20 μSv/h. Conclusion: Nearly 75% of patients undergoing an 18F-FDG PET/CT scan are exceeding 20 μSv/h when leaving the imaging facility. The most effective method to reduce radiation exposure was voiding after a 30 minute wait post-exam. ER -