ABSTRACT
Patients ............................................................................................ 163 7.5.2 Disposal of a Radioactive Corpse ................................................ 163 7.5.3 Transport and Storage of Radioactive Material ......................... 164 7.5.4 Disposal of Radioactive Waste ..................................................... 164
7.5.4.1 Delay and Decay ............................................................. 164 7.5.4.2 Dilute and Disperse ........................................................ 165 7.5.4.3 Concentrate and Contain ............................................... 165
7.5.5 Accident Contingency Plans ........................................................ 165 7.5.5.1 Treat ................................................................................... 166 7.5.5.2 Delineate ........................................................................... 166 7.5.5.3 Contain ............................................................................. 166 7.5.5.4 Decontaminate ................................................................ 166 7.5.5.5 Report ............................................................................... 167
7.5.6 Mandatory Record Keeping ......................................................... 167 References ............................................................................................................ 167
This chapter gives an overview of the radiation protection principles applicable to the nuclear medicine department. After a brief introduction into the practice of nuclear medicine and its overall role within medicine, the properties of commonly used radionuclides are discussed. This is followed by an outline of the appropriate methods to limit exposure from radiation hazards and a description of the methods used for the estimation of dose to both patient and staff. Finally, the radiation protection requirements for the facilities provided within the nuclear medicine department and the procedures adopted by staff are discussed. In this regard, the reader is also directed to important publications by international radiation protection bodies.1,2 Additional radiation protection issues may arise in positron emission tomography (PET) centers with their own cyclotron. These are beyond the scope of the present chapter but have been addressed specifically in several recent articles.3-5
7.1.1 Fundamental Concepts
Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine that utilizes unsealed radioactive material in a range of complex in vivo procedures for the diagnosis and the treatment of disease.
