Introduction:

SPECT-CT Hybrid image technique combines the SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) image with the CT (computerized tomography) image to obtain both functional and anatomical images in the same study. The total effective ionizing radiation dose received in SPECT-CT studies may be estimated based on the effective dose from the radiopharmaceutical administered and the effective dose from the CT (computerized tomography) component.

Objectives:

the study aims to estimate the total effective dose in SPECT-CT protocols applied for the adult population, and to determine the additional contribution from the CT component to the total effective dose.

Method:

258 SPECT-CT studies were evaluated to estimate the total effective dose from the administration of radiopharmaceuticals and low dose CT studies. Specific conversion factors for each radiopharmaceutical and area of the body explored with the CT were used to estimate radiation doses from both components.

Results:

total effective dose (average ± SD) in the SPECT-CT studies was: 12.4 ± 1.44 mSv in the myocardial perfusion study, 1.14 ± 0.25 mSv in the breast sentinel lymph node study, 8.6 ± 0.6 mSv in the parathyroid study, 1.48 ± 1.02 mSv in the thyroid study. As to bone studies, doses found were: 4.5 ± 0.3, in neck studies, 6.07 ± 0.3 mSv in thoracic studies and 6.1 ± 0.3 mSv in abdominal and pelvic studies. The radiation dose from the CT study ranges from 0.46 mSv for the thoracic region on the breast sentinel lymph node study to 2.3 mSv for the bone SPECT-CT study of the abdominal and pelvic region.

Conclusions:

we managed to estimate the effective dose in the the most frequently used SPECT-CT protocols for the adult population and the contribution of CT studies to the total effective dose. It was found to be relatively low when compared to the dose contributed by the radiopharmaceuticals administered, with the exception of the sentinel lymph node study for which the contribution from the CT study is approximately half the total effective dose.

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