Physics & Pharmacy · Procedures
Procedures & Protocols
Snapshot
The practical scaffolding around every scan: preparing the patient (fasting, glucose, thyroid blockade, medication review), administering the tracer safely, using CT contrast appropriately, and handling special populations — paediatric, pregnancy and breastfeeding — within a robust radiation-safety framework.
PreparationDetermines quality
Safe administrationAvoid extravasation
Special groupsChildren, pregnancy
Clinical topics
Patient preparation
Fasting, glucose, blockade, medication review.
Administration & extravasation
Injection technique and paravenous dose.
Contrast in hybrid imaging
Iodinated CT contrast: safety and pitfalls.
Paediatric considerations
Weight-based dosing, comfort, ALARA.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Fetal dose and lactation interruption.
Departmental radiation safety
Contamination, waste, therapy release.
Regulation, release & transport
Dose limits, therapy release, waste, transport, incidents.
Sources
Key guidelines and evidence behind this chapter.
- Boellaard R, Delgado-Bolton R, Oyen WJG, et al. FDG PET/CT: EANM procedure guidelines for tumour imaging: version 2.0. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2015;42:328–354.
- Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee. Notes for guidance on the clinical administration of radiopharmaceuticals and use of sealed radioactive sources. UK Health Security Agency; July 2026.
- European Association of Nuclear Medicine. Paediatric Dosage Card (version 5.7.2016); and Treves ST, et al. 2016 update of the North American consensus guidelines for pediatric administered radiopharmaceutical activities. J Nucl Med. 2016;57(12):15N–18N.
- International Commission on Radiological Protection. Pregnancy and medical radiation. ICRP Publication 84. Ann ICRP. 2000;30(1).
- Leide-Svegborn S, Ahlgren L, Johansson L, Mattsson S. Excretion of radionuclides in human breast milk after nuclear medicine examinations: biokinetic and dosimetric data and recommendations on breastfeeding interruption. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2016;43:808–821.
- European Society of Urogenital Radiology Contrast Media Safety Committee. ESUR Guidelines on Contrast Agents, version 10.0. 2018; and ACR Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media. ACR Manual on Contrast Media. American College of Radiology; 2024.
- International Commission on Radiological Protection. Release of patients after therapy with unsealed radionuclides. ICRP Publication 94. Ann ICRP. 2004;34(2).
- US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Release of patients administered radioactive material. Regulatory Guide 8.39, Revision 1. 2020; and NUREG-1556, Volume 9, Revision 3. 2019.
- Health and Safety Executive. Work with ionising radiation. Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017. Approved Code of Practice and guidance (L121). HSE; 2018.
- International Atomic Energy Agency. Regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material, 2018 edition. SSR-6 (Rev. 1). IAEA; 2018.