ESR EuroSafe Imaging and its role in promoting radiation protection – 6 years of success (original) (raw)
Health Physics, 2009
- This initial introductory chapter will summarily portray the essential organizational features and objectives of IRPA12. The subsequent chapters will resume the proceedings of the three fields covered by the Congress' unusually comprehensive programme: the epistemological basis of the essential radiation science, the paradigmatic models used to protect people against radiation exposure and the practical implementation and achievements of radiation safety. An epilogue will summarize the author's personal views on the outcome. (3) IRPA12 was a real mammoth endeavour involving more than 1700 participants and 1500 papers, including 88 chairmen and co-chairmen, 36 rapporteurs, and 36 technical secretaries, 30 conference speakers, 36 keynote speakers, and 250 presenters. All its activities were planned and coordinated by the Congress' Organizing Committee and SAR authorities, over four year of intensive work. The Congress programme was developed by the IRPA12 Programme Committee, chaired by Prof. Eduardo Gallego (Spain), in consultation with the Congress' President. 1 Mr González is senior adviser of the Argentine Nuclear Regulatory Authority and representative at the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, vice-president of the International Commission on Radiological Protection and member of the Commission of Safety Standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Until IRPA12 he was vice-president of IRPA.
IAEA Safety Standards Applicable to Non-Medical Human Imaging
International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org, 2024
Human Imaging using ionizing radiation for medical purposes has been used widely since its discovery. There are also different practices where individuals are intentionally exposed to radiation for purposes that are not for medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or biomedical research and are not motivated by the health benefit of the exposed individual. Some examples of these non-medical human images are screening passengers at airports for security reasons, detecting drugs being smuggled inside the body, detecting items being smuggled into prisons, enhancing security at major sports events worldwide, determining the age of those individuals who may have no identity papers, underpin insurance. These non-medical human imaging are increasing daily as security concerns are growing globally. The public may not always be aware that they are involved in using radiation through these practices, even though these may already become very common in society. States have the responsibility to make decisions on a case-by-case basis for the Justification of these uses and ensure that proper controls and regulations are in place when they are considered justified. To ensure the safety of non-medical human imaging, the International Atomic Emergency Agency (IAEA) has set the standards, safety requirements, and guides to apply to these areas. It is part of the IAEA's objective to assist its Member States with implementing the IAEA Safety Standards. This paper briefly overviews the information provided in the IAEA Safety Standards in non-medical human imaging so that the Member States can appropriately apply them in their legal framework.
Insights into Imaging
Background A Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis was performed to understand the status quo of education and training in radiation protection (RP) and to develop a coordinated European approach to RP training needs based on stakeholder consensus and existing activities in the field. Fourteen team members represented six European professional societies, one European voluntary organisation, two international healthcare organisations and five professions, namely: Medical Physicists; Nuclear Medicine Physicians; Radiologists; Radiation Oncologists and Radiographers. Four subgroups analysed the “Strengths”, “Weaknesses”, “Opportunities” and “Threats” related to E&T in RP developed under previous European Union (EU) programmes and on the Guidelines on Radiation Protection Education and Training of Medical Professionals in the EU. Results Consensus agreement identified four themes for strengths and opportunities, namely: (1) existing structures and training recommenda...
European Journal of Radiology, 2012
Recognizing the lack of information on image quality and patient doses in most countries in Asia, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) initiated a project to assess the status of imaging technology, practice in conventional radiography, mammography, computed tomography (CT) and interventional procedures, and to implement optimisation actions. A total of 20 countries participated. Obsolete practices of use of fluoroscopy for positioning, photofluorography, chest fluoroscopy and conventional tomography were reported by 4 out of 7 countries that provided this information. Low-kV technique for chest radiography is in use in participating countries for 20-85% of cases, and manual processing is in 5-85% of facilities in 5 countries. Instances of the use of adult CT protocol for children in three participating countries were observed in 10-40% of hospitals surveyed. After implementation of a Quality Control programme, the image quality in conventional radiography improved by zero to 13 percentage points in certain countries and dose reduction was from 10% to 85%. In mammography, poor quality, ranging from 10 to 29% of images in different countries was observed. The project increased attention to dose quantities and dose levels in computed tomography, although doses in most cases were not higher than reference levels. In this study 16-19% of patients in interventional cardiology received doses that have potential for either stochastic risk or tissue reaction. This multi-national study is the first of its kind in the Asia, and it provided insight into the situation and opportunities for improvement.
Radiation Dose Risk and Diagnostic Benefit in Imaging Investigations
American Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering
The paper presents many facets of medical imaging investigations radiological risks. The total volume of prescribed medical investigations proves a serious lack in monitoring and tracking of the cumulative radiation doses in many health services. Modern radiological investigations equipment is continuously reducing the total dose of radiation due to improved technologies, so a decrease in per caput dose can be noticed, but the increasing number of investigations has determined a net increase of the annual collective dose. High doses of radiation are cumulated from Computed Tomography investigations. An integrated system for radiation safety of the patients investigated by radiological imaging methods, based on smart cards and Public Key Infrastructure allow radiation absorbed dose data storage.
Insights Into Imaging, 2023
Purpose To analyse the existing radiation protection (RP) education and training (E&T) capabilities in the European Union and identify associated needs, problems and challenges. Method An online survey was disseminated via the EURAMED Rocc-n-Roll consortium network and prominent medical societies in the field of radiological research. The survey sections analyse the RP E&T during undergraduate, residency/internship and continuous professional development; RP E&T problems and legal implementation. Differences were analysed by European geographic regions, profession, years of professional experience and main area of practice/research. Results The majority of the 550 respondents indicated that RP topics are part of undergraduate curricula in all courses for their profession and country (55%); however, hands-on practical training is not included according to 30% of the respondents. The lack of E&T, practical aspects in current E&T, and mandatory continuing E&T were considered the major problems. The legal requirement that obtained higher implementation score was the inclusion of the practical aspects of medical radiological procedures on education (86%), and lower score was obtained for the inclusion of RP E&T on medical and dental school curriculums (61%). Conclusions A heterogeneity in RP E&T during undergraduate, residency/internship and continuous professional development is evident across Europe. Differences were noted per area of practice/research, profession, and European geographic region. A large variation in RP E&T problem rating was also obtained. Key points 1. European health professionals reveal different RP E&T experiences. 2. Around 12% of the respondents report the absence of undergraduate RP topics. 3. The radiation protection problems perception varies across Europe. 4. The results revealed a heterogeneity of compliance with the EU recommendations.
Belgian Medical Imaging Platform - Promoting the rational use of medical imaging
2016
Poster: "EuroSafe Imaging 2016 / ESI-0014 / Belgian Medical Imaging Platform - Promoting the rational use of medical imaging" by: "N. Reynders-Frederix1, K. Muylle2, W. Janssens3, M. Haelterman1, L. Van Bladel4, H. Engels5, G. Villeirs6; 1FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment Brussels/BE, 2Belgian Society of Nuclear Medicine Brussels/BE, 3Ghent University Hospital Ghent/BE, 4Federal Agency for Nuclear Control Brussels/BE, 5National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance Brussels/BE, 6Belgian Society of Radiology Brussels/BE"
Adverse events due to unnecessary radiation exposure in medical imaging reported in Finland
Radiography, 2020
Adverse events in radiology are quite rare, but they do occur. Radiation safety regulations and the law obligate organizations to report certain adverse events, harm and near misses, especially events related to patients' health and safety. The aim of this study was to describe and analyse incidents related to radiation safety issues reported in Finland. Methods The data were collected from incident reports documented by radiology personnel concerning notifications of abnormal events in medical imaging made to the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority between 2010 and 2017. During these eight years, 312 reports were submitted. Only events reported from radiology departments were included; nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and animal radiology cases were excluded. The final number of reports was 293 (94%). Results The majority of the 293 approved reports were related to computed tomography (CT, 68.3%) and to X-ray examinations (27.6%). Altogether 82.9% of those irradiated were adults, most of whom were exposed to unnecessary radiation through CT (86.5%), 5.5% were children, and 4.4% pregnant women. The most common effective dose of unnecessary radiation was 1 mSv or less (89.7% of all examinations). The highest effective doses were reported in CT (from under 1 mSv-20 mSv and above). The reasons for the adverse events were incorrect identification (32%), incorrect procedure, site or side (30%); and human errors or errors of knowledge Data selection (20%). Conclusion Adverse events occurred especially in CT examinations. It is important to collect and analyse incident data, assess the harmful events, learn from them and aim to reduce adverse events.