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Estimates of the effective dose equivalent, HE, in positron emission tomography studies

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine volume 17, pages 116–120 (1990)Cite this article

Abstract

The effective dose equivalent, HE, can be used as a standard radiation dose parameter in all imaging modalities that use ionizing radiation, including positron emission tomography (PET). A simplified method for evaluating approximate HE values for the positron emitters carbon 11, nitrogen 13, oxygen 15 and fluorine 18 is presented. HE values for a range of PET studies have been computed based on biodistribution data available in the scientific literature. Low-dose PET studies include a bolus administration of 1030 MBq CO15O (HE = 1 mSv) and 74 MBq [18F]-l dopa (HE = 1.3 mSv). High-dose PET studies include a 1-h (steady-state) inhalation of a total of 9250 MBq C15OO (HE = 9.4 mSv). The mean HE value of 13 diverse PET studies was computed to be 4.5 mSv.

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Author notes

  1. George A. Sandison

    Present address: Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University Medical Centre, 535 Barnhill Drive, 46202-5289, Indianapolis, IN, USA

Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Physics, Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, 100 Olivia Street, R3E OV9, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Walter Huda & George A. Sandison

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  1. Walter Huda
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Huda, W., Sandison, G.A. Estimates of the effective dose equivalent, HE, in positron emission tomography studies. Eur J Nucl Med 17, 116–120 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00811437

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00811437

Key words

  • Dosimetry
  • Effective dose equivalent
  • PET radiation dosimetry