Evaluation of Radiation Doses of the 18FDG PET/CT in the Whole Body and Midthigh Protocols for Oncologic Patients

This study delves into the assessment of radiation doses in 18FDG PET/CT imaging, specifically focusing on two distinct protocols: the whole-body and midthigh approaches. A total of 48 PET/CT scans were conducted on patients, comprising 25 males and 23 females, between January 2021 and March 2023. The sample was evenly divided, with half of the participants diagnosed with multiple Myeloma undergoing full-body scans, while the remaining half consisted of oncology patients who received midthigh scans. Utilizing CT EXPO software, radiation doses were assessed for each case, revealing that the midthigh protocol resulted in higher doses compared to the full-body protocol. As a result, it is recommended that full-body imaging be adopted as the preferred approach for all oncology patients. In conclusion, our research aimed to determine the optimal imaging protocol based on patient radiation exposure, and the results unequivocally establish that the midthigh protocol consistently delivers a substantially higher radiation dose compared to the full-body protocol. This disparity is particularly evident in the elevated absorbed doses observed within organs at risk during midthigh imaging in comparison to the full-body approach. These findings underscore the importance of carefully selecting the imaging protocol, with due consideration to patient safety and radiation exposure, making a compelling case for favoring the full-body protocol in clinical practice.