Background
Nuclear medicine departments are developing rapidly across cities and regions, contributing significantly to public health. Although nuclear medicine in our country started relatively late and still lags behind the scale seen in developed countries such as the United States, Europe and Japan, local health regulatory authorities and hospital management, with a long‑term perspective, are actively planning and constructing nuclear medicine facilities. We look forward to a near future in which nuclear medicine serves an even broader population, providing a solid health safeguard for more people. In this process, our radiation monitoring instrumentation industry has also played a small but meaningful role: by serving the department, we indirectly serve the people. Each of us fulfils our own responsibilities, and we feel genuinely honoured to do so.
How, then, should medical radiation monitoring instruments be configured in a nuclear medicine department? The following provides a concise overview, addressing the clinical business logic, the potential hazards arising from the use of radionuclides, and the benefits of deploying appropriate monitoring instruments.
What is a Nuclear Medicine Division?
Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine and medical imaging that uses the nuclear properties of matter for diagnosis and therapy. More specifically, nuclear medicine forms part of molecular imaging, as it produces images that reflect biological processes occurring at the cellular and sub‑cellular levels. Common nuclear medicine examinations include myocardial perfusion scans, bone scans and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. In simple terms, nuclear medicine applies the principle of radionuclide imaging to conduct health screening and medical diagnosis, and harnesses medical technology to support clinical decision‑making.
Equipment and Radionuclides
At present, the large‑scale equipment most commonly installed in nuclear medicine departments includes SPECT(/CT) and PET/CT. Frequently used radionuclides include I‑131, F‑18 and Tc‑99m, among others.
The Department Construction Process
Because nuclear medicine involves the use of radiopharmaceuticals, both the environmental protection authorities and the health regulatory bodies in our country apply rigorous scrutiny to all aspects of department construction. From the initial planning stage to the official opening of the department, a period of two to three years, and sometimes as long as three to five years, is not uncommon. A substantial amount of time is needed for site selection, approval of large‑scale equipment, civil construction works, and radiation protection engineering. The investment scale is among the highest of all clinical departments in a hospital, typically ranging from tens of millions to over a hundred million RMB. This, in itself, underscores the significant importance of the nuclear medicine department.
Radiation Monitoring Instruments
Before commissioning, in the late phase of project construction, the department is required, as specified by the environmental impact assessment and the pre‑operational safety assessment, to equip itself with appropriate radiation protection monitoring instruments. These include α/β surface contamination monitors, gamma dose rate monitors and activity meters, all of which are medical radiation monitoring instruments used to survey the radiation dose levels in the departmental environment. In recent years, in accordance with updated requirements, facilities must also install instruments for measuring the internal radionuclide burden of in‑patients undergoing I‑131 therapy; this equipment is used to verify that the patient has reached the acceptable discharge criteria, thereby preventing any radiological hazard to family members, the public and the environment. At the same time, the radioactivity concentration of discharged liquid waste is subject to strict limits, with total radioactivity not exceeding 10 Bq/L. Although these radiation monitoring instruments do not generate revenue for the department, they safeguard the radiation safety of both practitioners and the public, and their critical importance is evident.
Typical List of Radiation Protection and Monitoring Equipment for a Nuclear Medicine Department
- Portable α/β surface contamination monitor
- Environmental area gamma radiation monitoring system
- Patient release monitor (post‑I‑131 therapy discharge monitor)
- Radiation monitoring system software
- Complete decay tank wastewater treatment and monitoring system
- Personal dose alarm (electronic dosimeter)
- Activity meter (dose calibrator)
- Lead glasses, lead aprons, lead caps, lead thyroid shields
- PET‑dedicated fume hood
- FDG fully automated dispensing system
- FDG manual dispensing shielding unit
- Multipurpose shielded three‑section syringe container
- Lead shielded transport container for PET
- Foot‑operated radioactive waste bin
- Mobile PET injection shielding trolley
- Lead shielding screen for waiting rooms
- Tungsten alloy syringe shield
- Transport shielding case
- Emergency spill decontamination kit
- Mobile lead apron rack
- Shielded source storage container
From the above list, one can see that a considerable variety of protective equipment needs to be configured during department construction, and medical radiation monitoring instruments form an integral part of that list. Each department selects different products depending on the radionuclides actually used, yet the application philosophy is common: only when these preparations are properly in place can the radiation safety of medical staff be ensured during the intense work that follows the opening of the nuclear medicine department.