Speaker
Description
Introduction: In recent years, the number of workplaces providing lutetium therapy has increased, which is one of the modern therapeutic procedures of nuclear medicine – theragnostic, combining not only therapy with radiopharmaceuticals but also diagnostics. This therapy can be administered in the inpatient part of the workplace as well as in an outpatient manner. In the outpatient method of administration, the patient remains in isolation for up to 6 hours after the radiopharmaceutical is applied, ideally in a separate room. Subsequently, the patient and his companion are instructed and discharged to home care, where it is necessary to continue to follow a specific regime considering the basic principles of radiation protection.
Aim: The aim of the paper is to propose procedures to optimise radiation protection for patients receiving lutetium therapy at a selected nuclear medicine workplace.
Results: The paper will compare the radiation exposure of selected professions (nurses, family members as caregivers, drivers) and also compare the radiation exposure of people caring for patients without incontinence and those with a certain degree of incontinence (4 measurement cases). The paper will also identify the most common locations of surface contamination on mantles (approximately 15% of cases) and their impact on the monitored person's radiation load.
Conclusion: Nuclear medicine workplaces performing treatment with Lu-177 are required not only for trained personnel, but also for compliance with adequate work procedures, ensuring hygienic measures and radiation safety and, finally, for appropriate logistics in ensuring the management of radioactive waste.
Acknowledgements: The contribution was partially supported by the project SGS25/076/OHK4/1T/17.