Estimate of effective dose for adult patients from nuclear medicine examinations in Sudan

Artificial radiation is the primary radiogenic risk source to the general population. Medical field has been growing in Sudan. This study aims to estimate effective doses for adult patients from nuclear medicine examinations. The study involved 685 patients from five different hospitals in Sudan. In total, 300, 196, and 189 patients underwent renal, thyroid, and bone scans. All procedures were carried out using the Tc-99m radionuclide. Effective dose has been estimated using computer software depending on conductive activity. The results show that dose information for patients from thyroid, renal, and bone scan, for thyroid scan the patients' age was 42.82 +/- 16.46 years, the patient's weight 68.58 +/- 12.82 kg, the activity 4.75 +/- 0.543 mCi and the effective dose for thyroid was 2.28 +/- 0.26 mSv. For renal scan, the patients' age 45.19 +/- 16.36 years, the weight 65.96 +/- 13.78 kg, the activity 5.21 +/- 1.166 mCi, and the effective dose 0.94 +/- 0.211 mSv. For a bone scan, the patients' age was 57.59 +/- 14.92 years, the patient's weight was 69.48 +/- 13.71 kg, the activity 19.96 +/- 2.11 mCi, and the effective dose for bone was 4.208 +/- 0.443 mSv. The study revealed that the administered activity is independent of patient weight. Patients received unjustified exposure due to the high amount of administered activity. Implementation of national guidelines is necessary to improve the practice and patient safety.

Automated summary

This study estimated effective doses for adult patients from nuclear medicine examinations in Sudan, involving 685 patients from five hospitals. The results showed varying effective doses for thyroid, renal, and bone scans, with patients receiving unjustified exposure due to high administered activity, highlighting the need for national guidelines to improve practice and patient safety.