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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

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Open Access 01-06-2020 | Computed Tomography | Original Article

Paediatric nuclear medicine practice: an international survey by the IAEA

Authors: G. L. Poli, L. Torres, M. Coca, M. Veselinovic, M. Lassmann, H. Delis, F. Fahey

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 6/2020

Abstract

Purpose

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) decided to initiate a survey to evaluate the current status of the practice of paediatric nuclear medicine worldwide, with the focus mainly on low and middle-income countries specifically in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. This investigation sought to determine if the practice in paediatric nuclear medicine in these countries differed from that indicated by the survey of the Nuclear Medicine Global Initiative (NMGI) and if nuclear medicine practitioners were following established paediatric nuclear medicine guidelines.

Methods

A total of 133 institutes took part in the survey from 62 different IAEA member states within Africa (29), Asia (39), Europe (29) and Latin America (36). The four most frequent conventional (single-photon) nuclear medicine procedures were ^99mTc labelled MDP, DSMA, MAG3 and pertechnetate thyroid scans. In addition, 46 centres provided data on FDG PET/CT, including exposure data for the CT component. Nearly half of the sites (48%) perform less than 200 paediatric nuclear medicine studies per year, while 11% perform more than 1000 such studies per year.

Results

Administered activities largely exceeded the recommendations for most of the sites for DMSA, MAG3 and pertechnetate, while compliance with international standards was somehow better for MDP studies. For FDG PET, the results were more uniform than for conventional nuclear medicine procedures. However, the use of CT in PET/CT for paediatric nuclear medicine revealed a high variability and, in some cases, high, dose-length product (DLP) values. This observation indicates that further attention is warranted for optimizing clinical practice in FDG PET/CT.

Conclusions

Overall, in most parts of the world, efforts have been undertaken to comply either with the EANM dosage card or with the North American Consensus Guidelines. However, variability in the practice of paediatric nuclear medicine still exists. The results of this survey provide valuable recommendations for a path towards global standardization of determining the amount of activity to be administered to children undergoing nuclear medicine procedures.

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Title: Paediatric nuclear medicine practice: an international survey by the IAEA
Authors: G. L. Poli
L. Torres
M. Coca
M. Veselinovic
M. Lassmann
H. Delis
F. Fahey
Publication date: 01-06-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Computed Tomography
Computed Tomography
Positron Emission Tomography
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 6/2020
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-019-04624-w

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Paediatric nuclear medicine practice: an international survey by the IAEA

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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