Occupational Radiation Protection in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine

The use of radiation in medical applications continues to increase worldwide and has a direct implication for radiation protection of medical staff performing or assisting in medical examinations using ionizing radiation sources. In nuclear medicine, staff is exposed to the risk of external exposure when using radiopharmaceuticals and when performing conventional radiological examinations, and to the risk of contamination when handling unsealed sources. In Morocco, the number of nuclear medicine centers has increased to 25, working with new imaging technologies, including 13 PET CT, 10 SPECT CT, 15 Gammas cameras, and 44 Radioactive Iodine (I-131) therapy rooms. This technological advance and the increased use of these new techniques require that specific radiation safety regulations be implemented to protect nuclear medicine personnel, patients, and the environment.