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False triggering of an ultraviolet flame detector after 99mTc-MDP injection

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Abstract

We report a patient who set off a restroom’s ultraviolet-spectrum flame detector, occurring 2.5 h after administration of radioisotope 99mTc-MDP (740 MBq) for bone scintigraphy. The radiation dose rate emitted from the patient was estimated to be about 11.82 μSv/h at a distance of 100 cm. To date, many cases have been reported of radiation detector false alarms triggered by radioisotopes administered to patients, presumably due to strengthened security measures and increased radioisotope use. Only one other case of false flame detector triggering in relation to radioisotope administration has been reported, in that case due to therapeutic radioiodine; there have been no prior reports of diagnostic 99mTc triggering flame detectors.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Gen Nishimura, MD, Ph.D., and Atsuhiko Handa, MD, for their very helpful suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Medical Center, 2-8-29, Musashidai, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, 183-8561, Japan

    Hisashi Yoshizawa

  2. Department of Radiology, St. Luke’s International Hospital, 9-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8560, Japan

    Jay Starkey

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  1. Hisashi Yoshizawa
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  2. Jay Starkey
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Correspondence to Hisashi Yoshizawa.

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Yoshizawa, H., Starkey, J. False triggering of an ultraviolet flame detector after 99mTc-MDP injection. Ann Nucl Med 30, 380–384 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12149-016-1066-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12149-016-1066-y

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