Ionizing radiation dose optimization

Ionizing Radiation. CTA/CTP also requires ionizing radiation and iodinated contrast. The safety issues involved are no different from those of any patient group receiving contrast-enhanced head CT scanning, and are discussed at length in multiple papers [15,98]. The CTP protocol, in particular, has been optimized to provide maximum perfusion signal with minimum dose [45]. Overall, each of the CTA and CTP components of our protocol deliver approximately the same low radiation dose to the head as a conventional CT. 

All work involving exposure to ionizing radiation must be planned and prepared for carefully in advance. It is always worth doing a dummy run without radioactivity to check out the procedures, to eliminate any awkward or unnecessary tasks, and to optimize the arrangement of the workstation. A discussion relating to the work should not be held next to the radioactive material if it could just as easily take place away from the area. Similarly, radiation dose rates should be kept as low as practicable in areas of high occupancy. 

The nature of radioactive waste implies in particular the hazard of exposure to ionizing radiation. Other hazards associated with radioactive waste are similar to those associated with toxic waste. In establishing acceptable levels of protection the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) [5-7] and the IAEA [8] and specifically the concq>ts of justification, optimization and dose limitation are taken into account. The relevance of these concepts depends on the e of radioactive waste management activities. The following exanples may be given ... 

---