Extremity monitoring: considerations for use, dosimeter placement, and evaluation

Various aspects of extremity dosimetry are presented in this paper to help the licensee decide when to use extremity dosimetry, what method of dosimetry to use, and how to interpret the results of the dosimetry system. Topics addressed include a review of the applicable regulations and recommendations and their historical basis, a review of the published research relating to extremity dosimetry, a report of laboratory measurement results, and a report of measurements at licensee facilities. The current regulations as they apply to extremity dosimetry and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) interpretation of these regulations are reviewed. The history of the current Code of Federal Regulations is examined so that the reasoning behind the present regulations may be understood. The recommendations of various radiation advisory groups are also summarized, and a critical review of published experimental data applicable to extremity dosimetry is presented. These recommendations and data are used to identify the radiosensitive tissues in the extremities and rank the relative risk to each organ or tissue