The role of protective lead clothing in reducing radiation exposure rates to personnel during equine bone scintigraphy.
Abstract: Bone scintigraphy is often used in horses because of its sensitivity and noninvasive nature. A 99mTc labeled radiopharmaceutical is injected at a dose of between 5.7 and 7.3GBq. Images are acquired immediately postinjection and 2-4h post. People are often in the room with the horse during the acquisition process. Objectives of this study were to (a) document the radiation exposure rates at different distances from various sites of the horse at varying times post injection and (b) study the usefulness of wearing lead aprons to reduce exposure rates to personnel. Radiation exposure rates were measured in at three distances (at skin surface and at 30 and 100 cm from the skin) from three sites (shoulder, thorax, and pelvis) in 19 horses. Exposure rates were measured with and without shielding by a 0.5-mm lead equivalent apron during both the pool and delayed phases. A 0.5mm equivalent lead apron significantly decreases radiation exposure (P<0.05) at these three distances from the three sites during both image acquisition phases. Mean dose reduction factors from the lead apron range from 3.6 to 5.7.
Publication Date: 2006-01-07 PubMed ID: 16396274DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2005.00097.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study investigates the effectiveness of protective lead clothing in reducing radiation exposure for personnel during equine bone scintigraphy. It found that the use of a lead apron significantly decreases radiation exposure.
Introduction
- The research study focuses on equine bone scintigraphy, a diagnostic medical imaging technique used commonly to detect fractures, infections, and tumors in horses. It relies on the injection of a radioactive tracer into the horse, which humans in the vicinity could be exposed to.
- This study’s primary goal was not only to establish the level of radiation exposure at varying distances from the horse but also to determine if protective lead aprons could effectively reduce radiation exposure levels for personnel.
Study Methodology
- The procedure was carried out on 19 horses, each injected with a radiopharmaceutical labeled 99mTc at a dose between 5.7-7.3GBq. The dosage almost immediately creates detectable radiation.
- The exposure rates were documented at three distances at three different horse body sites (shoulder, thorax, pelvis) — these distances being the skin surface, 30cm and 100cm from the skin. To ensure accurate results, measurements were taken both with and without the use of a 0.5-mm lead apron.
- These measurements were taken during two separate phases of imaging acquisition – immediately post-injection and 2-4 hours post-injection.
Results of the Study
- The study found that using a 0.5mm lead apron resulted in a statistically significant decrease in exposure to radiation during both phases of image acquisition. This was consistent at all the three distances – at skin surface, 30cm and 100cm from the skin, from the shoulder, thorax, and pelvis of the horses.
- The apron reduced radiation exposure by a factor ranging from 3.6 to 5.7, a significant decrease that could protect personnel from long-term health risks associated with repeated radiation exposure.
Conclusion
- To summarise, protective lead clothing effectively reduced radiation exposure levels during equine bone scintigraphy, implying that it is an essential precautionary measure for personnel who regularly work with this procedure.
- The findings of the study enhance the understanding and awareness of radiation protection in equine diagnostic imaging and contribute to the overarching goal of ensuring the safety of veterinary healthcare workers.
Cite This Article
APA
Steyn PF, Uhrig J.
(2006).
The role of protective lead clothing in reducing radiation exposure rates to personnel during equine bone scintigraphy.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 46(6), 529-532.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.2005.00097.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 W Drake, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. psteyn@colostate.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone and Bones / diagnostic imaging
- Colorado
- Horses
- Hospitals, Animal
- Humans
- Lead
- Nuclear Medicine
- Protective Clothing
- Radiation Protection / methods
- Radionuclide Imaging
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Khalili N, Zakariaee SS, Gharebaghi EJ, Salehi Y, Changizi V. Evaluation of Annual Staff Doses and Radiation Shielding Efficiencies of Thyroid Shield and Lead Apron during Preparation and Administration of (131)I, (81)Kr, and (99m)Tc-Labeled Radiopharmaceuticals. J Med Signals Sens 2022 Jan-Mar;12(1):90-94.
- Parvaresh R, Haghparast A, Khoshgard K, Jalili M, Eivazi MT, Ghorbani M. An Investigation to Determine an Optimum Protective Garment Material in Nuclear Medicine. J Biomed Phys Eng 2018 Dec;8(4):381-392.
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