18-Month Performance Assessment of Gemini TF 16 PET/CT System in a High-Volume Department.

UNLABELLED: Acceptance testing is a set of quality control tests performed to verify various manufacturer-specified parameters before a newly installed PET/CT system can be accepted for clinical use. A new PET/CT system, Gemini TF 16, installed in our department in September 2012 has a PET component capable of time-of-flight imaging using lutetium-yttrium-oxyorthosilicate crystals and operates in 3-dimensional mode. Our aim was to evaluate the system before acceptance and observe the consistency of its performance during high-volume work for 18 mo after installation (we perform an average of 30 PET/CT scans daily). METHODS: We performed NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) NU-2 2007 acceptance testing on the Gemini TF 16; continuously evaluated its gain calibration, timing resolution, and energy resolution during the subsequent 18 mo; and analyzed the results. RESULTS: The system passed the acceptance testing and showed few fluctuations in energy and timing resolutions during the observation period. CONCLUSION: The Gemini TF 16 whole-body PET/CT system performed excellently during the 18-mo study period despite the high volume of work.

Designing of High-Volume PET/CT Facility with Optimal Reduction of Radiation Exposure to the Staff: Implementation and Optimization in a Tertiary Health Care Facility in India.

Positron emission tomography (PET) has been in use for a few decades but with its fusion with computed tomography (CT) in 2001, the new PET/CT integrated system has become very popular and is now a key influential modality for patient management in oncology. However, along with its growing popularity, a growing concern of radiation safety among the radiation professionals has become evident. We have judiciously developed a PET/CT facility with optimal shielding, along with an efficient workflow to perform high volume procedures and minimize the radiation exposure to the staff and the general public by reducing unnecessary patient proximity to the staff and general public.

Radiation safety audit of a high volume Nuclear Medicine Department.

INTRODUCTION: Professional radiation exposure cannot be avoided in nuclear medicine practices. It can only be minimized up to some extent by implementing good work practices. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to audit the professional radiation exposure and exposure rate of radiation worker working in and around Department of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, Tata Memorial Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We calculated the total number of nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) procedures performed in our department and the radiation exposure to the radiation professionals from year 2009 to 2012. RESULTS: We performed an average of 6478 PET/CT scans and 3856 nuclear medicine scans/year from January 2009 to December 2012. The average annual whole body radiation exposure to nuclear medicine physician, technologist and nursing staff are 1.74 mSv, 2.93 mSv and 4.03 mSv respectively. CONCLUSION: Efficient management and deployment of personnel is of utmost importance to optimize radiation exposure in a high volume nuclear medicine setup in order to work without anxiety of high radiation exposure.