Changes

A patient undergoing nuclear medicine imaging or treatment becomes a radiation source and remains “radioactive” after the radiopharmaceutical has been administered. Radiation protection advice depends on the specific radioisotope and its radiopharmaceutical form administered and whether the procedure is diagnostic or therapeutic. However, the general principles of the ICRP system of radiological protection apply in nuclear medicine as they do for other medical imaging modalities using ionising radiation. In addition [[ICRP Publication 52]] Protection of the Patient in Nuclear Medicine (and Statement from the 1987 Como Meeting of ICRP) <ref name="Pub052">[[ICRP Publication 52]]Protection of the Patient in Nuclear Medicine. Ann. ICRP 17(4), 1987.</ref> and [[ICRP Publication 94]] Release of Patients after Therapy with Unsealed Radionuclides <ref name="Pub094">[[ICRP Publication 94]] Release of patients after therapy with unsealed radionuclides. Ann. ICRP 34(2), 2004.</ref> provide recommendations and guidance on the protection and release of patients after therapy with unsealed radionuclides (e.g. post 131 Iodine therapy for thyroid cancer), and [[ICRP Publication 128]] Radiation Dose to Patients from Radiopharmaceuticals: A Compendium of Current Information Related to Frequently Used Substances <ref name="Pub128">[[ICRP Publication 128]] Radiation Dose to Patients from Radiopharmaceuticals A Compendium of Current Information Related to Frequently Used Substances. Ann. ICRP 44(2S), 2015.</ref> provides dose coefficients to patients from radiopharmaceuticals.