Nuclear medicine (PET) - Dispensing Fluorine 18 FDG for a PET patient

A short video of me dispensinng F-18 FDG (Fluorodeoxiglucose) for a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) patient having a whole body scan. The centre I work at uses around 10mCi (370MBq) for a whole body PET scan. The isotope is produced in house in one of our two cyclotrons.

The shielding used in PET is a lot thicker than for other nuclear medicine isotopes, due to the high energy dual 511keV gamma photons released from each positron annihilation decay.

After I injected the patient, I calibrated the amount of FDG remaining in the syringe to work out the total dose injected into the patient. This has to be relatively accurate and decay corrected (F-18 has a half live of about 110 minutes) so that the SUV (standard uptake value) for reconstructing images can be correctly calculated.

Excuse the shakey camera work and one handed dispensing. Hard to film and work behind the shielding at the same time.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• nuclear medicine
• PET
• positron
• positron emission tomography
• fluorine
• fluorine 18
• FDG
• reactor
• radiation
• nuclear
• cyclotron

[530BigBen]

There was a time in America when the U.S. currency, namely copper pennies, were replaced with steel during World War Two. This was because copper was used for artillery overseas for instance. After VE and VJ Days, the old fashioned copper penny resumed its metallic composition.

Another US coin to undergo major change was a US Nickel. For the first time in US history, the Jefferson nickel's metallic composition included Silver. Those have a WWII date and a capital letter above the Monticello.

[GREENVK]

@530BigBen and this has what exactly to do with this video????

[greenwhy5000]

Here in Australia we have to wear them if we work in a PET centre.

[GREENVK]

@greenwhy5000 its not a legal requirement. Most people at work don't wear them. I work in Melbourne.

[IlyaKhleboyko]

Jesus, that is one massive syringe shield.

[msdontprocrastinate]

What are SUPs, and what's the "stress test"?

[greenwhy5000]

I just noticed the powerpoints, you are in Australia? I saw mCi and assumed otherwise. Must be just QLD that has to wear them then.

[GREENVK]

@greenwhy5000 this is Australia. Melbourne. We don't all wear them.