Estimación de la dosis absorbida en el equipo SPECT/CT para imágenes planares usando el radioisótopo 177Lu

Abstract

Currently, the radioisotope Lu-177 has very little information available about its behavior within the human body, as its implementation in the medical field was approved in 2021. Additionally, several nuclear medicine teams do not have the capability to provide information about the absorbed dose in a specific organ. These two factors present a challenge for doctors when making a diagnosis. Therefore, the objective of this work was to provide a guide to estimate the absorbed dose using the SPECT/CT equipment for planar images, utilizing the radioisotope Lu-177. This methodology was implemented in studies conducted at the FUESMEN Hospital in Mendoza, Argentina. The implemented methodology features both quantitative and qualitative approaches under the characteristics of an experimental design, aiming to manipulate the variables to achieve efficient data acquisition. The research area of this study was designed following the recommendations of international bodies responsible for radiological protection. Through the developed methodology, it was found that it is essential to implement a design capable of estimating the absorbed dose by different organs, considering the evolution of various radioisotopes, which causes the pre-established values of activity administered to a patient to lose accuracy over time. From this perspective, it is correct to conclude that due to the evolution of radioisotopes and the lack of information provided by the equipment, the diagnosis that a doctor can provide is not entirely reliable, thus creating the need for the development of a guide for implementing absorbed dose calculations.