A virtual meeting held by the International Atomic Energy Agency this week discussed progress made in reducing radiation-related risks while maintaining benefits for patients who require frequent medical imaging. Participants discussed the impact and concrete actions needed to strengthen patient protection guidelines and technical solutions to monitor patient exposure history, and assessed global efforts to continuously strengthen patient radiation protection.
“Every day, millions of patients undergo diagnostic imaging, including computed tomography (CT) scans, X-rays, image-guided interventional surgery, and nuclear medicine surgery. However, the increasing use of radiation imaging has raised alarm about a possible increase in patients’ radiation exposure, “explained Peter Johnston, Director of the IAEA’s Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety Division. “It is critical to implement specific measures to enhance the legitimacy of these imaging procedures and to optimize radiation protection for every patient undergoing such diagnosis and treatment.”
More than 4 billion radiological diagnostic and nuclear medicine procedures are performed worldwide each year. When these procedures are performed only when clinically reasonable, the benefits of using the minimum necessary exposure to achieve the desired diagnostic or therapeutic goal far outweigh the radiation risks.
The radiation dose of a single imaging procedure is very low, typically 0.001 mSv to 20-25 mSv, depending on the type of procedure. This is equivalent to a person’s exposure to natural background radiation for days to years. “However, the radiation risk may increase when patients undergo a series of imaging procedures that involve radiation exposure, especially if done over a short period of time,” said Zegna Vasileva, an IAEA radiation protection expert.
From 19 to 23 October, more than 90 experts from 40 countries, 11 international organizations and professional bodies attended the conference. Participants included radiation protection experts, radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, clinicians, medical physicists, radiation technologists, radiobiologists, epidemiologists, researchers, manufacturers and patient representatives.
To Sum up
Participants concluded that effective and intensive guidance is needed for patients with long-term illnesses and conditions that require frequent imaging. They agree that radiation exposure tracking needs to be widely available and integrated with other health care information systems to get the best results. In addition, they stressed the need for further development of imaging machines using lower doses and standardized dose monitoring software tools for global use.
But machines and better systems are not enough on their own. Users, including doctors, medical physicists, and technologists, are responsible for optimizing the use of such advanced tools. It is therefore important that they receive appropriate training and up-to-date information on radiation risks, share knowledge and experience, and communicate the benefits and risks openly and transparently with patients and caregivers.
About LnkMed
Another topic that deserves attention is that when scanning a patient, it is necessary to inject contrast agent into the patient’s body. And this needs to be achieved with the help of a contrast agent injector. LnkMed is a manufacturer that specializes in manufacturing, developing, and selling contrast agent syringes. It is located in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. It has 6 years of development experience so far, and the leader of the LnkMed R&D team has a Ph.D. and has more than ten years of experience in this industry. Our company’s product programs are all written by him. Since its establishment, LnkMed’s contrast agent injectors include CT single contrast media injector, CT dual head injector, MRI contrast media injector, Angiography high pressure injector, (and also the syringe and tubes that suit for brands from Medrad, Guerbet, Nemoto, LF, Medtron, Nemoto, Bracco, SINO, Seacrown) are well received by hospitals, and more than 300 units have been sold at home and abroad. LnkMed always insists on using good quality as the only bargaining chip to win the trust of customers. This is the most important reason why our high-pressure contrast agent syringe products are recognized by the market.
For more information about the LnkMed’s injectors, contact our team or email us by this email address: info@lnk-med.com
Post time: Apr-28-2024
