Speaker
Description
Background: Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) plays a crucial role in diagnosing, staging, and monitoring head and neck malignancies. However, the combined radiation dose from both PET (e.g., 18F-FDG) and CT components raises concerns regarding patient exposure and long-term risks. Understanding and optimizing dose parameters, such as injected radiotracer activity, CT acquisition protocols, and iterative reconstruction techniques, is essential to minimize the radiation burden while maintaining diagnostic accuracy. This study assesses the dose contributions from PET and CT in head and neck examinations, offering insights into strategies for reducing dose without compromising image quality. Aim: to evaluate patient exposure during the PET/CT Head and Neck procedure. Method: The study was conducted at a PET/CT research center in the Almana Hospital, Eastern Province, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The hospital is among the country’s largest referral hospitals and oncology clinics. The dose from a combined PET/CT (Siemens Biograph mCT Flow) system, known for its precision, and the amount of radiation supplied to the patient were used to determine their exposure. The rotation time is 0.5 s, the table weight capacity is 227 kg, and the size is 78 cm. The maximum output of the CT machine is 140 kVp and 800 mA. Result: A total of 58 Headneck PET-CT scans were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 52.28 years (SD = 19.27). Patient BMI was distributed across categories, with no single category exceeding 50%. The mean DLP was 540.82 mGy.cm (SD: 192.34). The mean CTDI was 4.38 mGy (SD: 0.52). The mean radionuclide activity was 314.76 MBq (SD: 42.73). Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of optimizing dose parameters, such as radiotracer activity and CT protocols, to reduce patient exposure while maintaining diagnostic quality. Further research and protocol adjustments are recommended to minimize radiation risks without compromising clinical outcomes.