Safety Radiation | Safety of PET Scan | Radiation Safety for Patients

What is radiation?

Radiation is simply a type of energy. The most familiar form of radiation is visible light, like that produced from the sun or a light bulb. Other form of radiation are x- ray and gamma rays. In nuclear medicine , radiation emitted from radioactive atoms is used for imaging and therapy.

What is radioactivity ?

This is process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is considered radioactive. In simple terms radioactive material keeps on decaying over period of time. Depending on its characteristic half life, it gets decayed over few hours to few days and after four half lives it almost vanishes from body.

Do we encounter radiation outside nuclear medicine field?

Is Nuclear medicine safe for patients?

Are nuclear medicine studies safe for children?

Yes Nuclear medicine studies have been performed on babies and children of all ages for more than 40 years without any known adverse effects. As low radiation doses are used for patients

Are nuclear medicine studies safe for pregnant women?

Nuclear medicine studies are generally avoided in pregnant females to prevent radiation exposure to fetus. Some radiopharmaceuticals get excreted into breast milk. So breastfeeding has to be stopped temporarily ( few hours) or permanently ( in radioiodine scan) depending on test being performed.

Safety in the time of COVID-19

  • All the guidelines have been formulated to keep you safe during this time of corona pandemic and as per government advisories.
  • For all nuclear medicine scans prior appointment is compulsory.
  • Patient having cold, cough and fever will have to undergo covid testing and nuclear medicine scans will have to be postponed till the results are out. Patients having flu symptoms are advised to go to PGIMS/designated Covid hospitals for Covid testing and it is compulsory as per government directives. RNM center does not do covid testing.
  • Patients are advised to bring their AADHAR CARD COPY as identification proof.
  • Patient should come alone of testing, if possible. In case patient needs help only one attendant is allowed. Attendant also should not have any fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.
  • Every patient will be booked for specific time slot to maintain social distancing even for all patients.
  • As nuclear medicine scans take long time around 4-5 hours, patients are advised to bring their own water bottle, glass, biscuits for duration of tests.
  • Patient will be allowed to go as soon as patient scan is finished and report will be sent on mobile . Patient wishing to collect hard copy can collect report next day 12 pm from center.
  • Patients and attendants not following guidelines and those violating protocols such as refusing to be scanned and/or putting staff or other patients at risk will be notified to appropriate authorities for necessary actions.
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