RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Establishing Local Diagnostic Reference Level for Bone Scintigraphy in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
JO J. Nucl. Med. Technol.
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP jnmt.121.262084
DO 10.2967/jnmt.121.262084
A1 Musa Yusuf Dambele
A1 Ganiyu Bello Sikiru
A1 Umar Farouk Ahmad
A1 Maryam Jessop
A1 Nasir Fagge Isa
A1 Kenneth K Agwu
YR 2021
UL http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/early/2021/07/30/jnmt.121.262084.abstract
AB Background: It is of vital importance to optimize radiation dose to patients undergoing radionuclide bone scintigraphy. This is one of the most common nuclear medicine procedures in many parts of the world, including Nigeria. However, this study was carried out as part of a national survey to establish Diagnostic Reference Levels for common nuclear medicine procedures in Nigeria, to facilitate optimization of medical exposure. It is important to state here that nuclear medicine was recently introduced in the healthcare system in Nigeria with only two centres presently conducting these procedures. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Nuclear Medicine department of a tertiary hospital in Southwest Nigeria to determine the preliminary local Diagnostic Reference Level (DRL) for radionuclide bone scintigraphy. One hundred and nine (109) patients who met the study criteria were involved in the study. Data was obtained from June 2017 to March 2019 and analyzed to obtain the 3rd quartile value of the distributed administered activity and achievable dose, the mean ± standard deviation, the anthropometric variables, and radiation dose to bone surface. Results: The result showed that the mean administered activity; achievable dose and DRL were 833.98± 106 MBq, 832.5 MBq and 895.4 MBq respectively. Furthermore, the calculated preliminary local DRL was found to be larger than values reported in studies done in Sudan, United Kingdom, Australia and ICRP. Conclusion: We concluded that the preliminary DRL from the study being the first of its kind in Nigeria is high due to lack of experience from practitioners. However, values obtained are still within international best practice range which when optimize will go a long way to reduce medical exposure without compromising image quality.