Radiation Safety for Anesthesiologists and Other Personnel on Simultaneous PET/MRI: Possible Radiation Exposure from Patients While Performing Prolonged Duration Scans

Abstract This observational study was conducted owing to the challenges of positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) that requires longer duration scanning radiopharmaceutical injected patient and added MRI environment. The aim this assess radiation dose at different distances from burden anesthesiologist other personnel in performing PET/MRI under general anesthesia or sedation. First, pre- postscan whole body exposure (WBE) were obtained for 45 minutes (n = 109) after injection radiopharmaceutical. WBE specific brain (10, 30, 100 cm) abdomen (10 30cm) patients undergoing F18 fluorodeoxyglucose studies. Second, staff working separately measured using pocket dosimeters during procedure. In scans, mean absorbed rates (ADR) prescan (45 minutes) 44.4 31.1 μSv 10 cm, 14.9 9.7μSv 30 3.5 2.8 respectively, surface head. Similarly, it 54.8 30.3 23 13.6μSv abdomen. WB ADR higher than scans. Anesthesiologist overall found be 4.84 µSv/patient/scan (112 patients). receives a safe effective scanning. With good training adequate planning, is possible decrease all concerned including anesthesiologists.