Radiation protection optimisation in nuclear medicine: Therapeutic procedures

Abstract

Radionuclide therapy has entered a phase in which there is growing interest, with new radionuclides, new labelling techniques and new molecular agents to assist targeting disease sites. This, among other developments, has given rise to questioning of some practices that have become enshrined in radionuclide therapy. In particular the issues around release of the patient back to their community and family has been the subject of much debate. This area will be reviewed and some aspects of unsealed source therapy which may be conducted in a general hospital will be described to illustrate the problems involved and some approaches to their solution. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.