The 2020 national diagnostic reference levels for nuclear medicine in Japan

• DOI: 10.1007/s12149-020-01512-4
• Publication Date: 2020-08-27T13:04:10Z
• Authors: Koichiro Abe; Makoto Hosono; Takayuki Igarashi; Takashi Iimori; Masanobu Ishiguro; Teruo Ito; Tomomasa Nagahata; Hiroyuki Tsushima; Hiroshi Watanabe
• Keywords: Diagnostic Imaging; Special Article; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Japan; Surveys and Questionnaires; Humans; Nuclear Medicine; Reference Standards; 3. Good health

Abstract The diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) are one of several effective tools for optimizing nuclear medicine examinations and reducing patient exposure. With the advances in imaging technology alterations examination protocols, DRLs must be reviewed periodically. first Japan were established 2015, since 5 years have passed, it is time to review revise DRLs. We conducted a survey investigate administered activities radiopharmaceuticals radiation doses computed tomography (CT) hybrid CT accompanied by single photon emission (SPECT)/CT positron (PET)/CT. distributed Web-based 915 facilities throughout responses provided 256 (response rate 28%). asked facility's median actual activity dose when SPECT/CT or PET/CT was performed patients with standard habitus protocol facility each examination. determined new based on 75th percentile referring 2015 DRLs, drug package inserts, updated guidelines. 2020 almost same as but relatively long-lived radionuclides, set low due changes Japanese delivery system. There no items higher than previous values. Although this roughly equivalent used US, overall they tend European vary widely depending site purpose