Radioactivity (parents and patients under 18 years)

X-rays are a form of radiation, just like the light around us is. They have a higher energy, however, which allows them to penetrate the body. This is how we can use our lightly radioactive tracers and devices to image your skeleton and organs.

The radiation dose we use is very limited. Therefore, the health risk for adults is negligible. Both the devices and the dose used are subject to strict legislation and regular checks.

Only with frequently repeated testing, particularly in very young patients, is there a greater risk of developing cancer from radiation. This is because although the risk is very low, it does accumulate (cumulatively). Compared to adults, very young patients have greater sensitivity to radiation.

However, the physician who requested the test and the physicians in the Nuclear Medicine Department ensure that the added value of this test for you or your child far outweighs any possible risk. This is called the ‘testing justification'. Therefore:

• we only carry out tests that are necessary
• we keep the radiation dose for each examination as low as possible, while still producing high-quality diagnostic imaging.

For most nuclear medicine tests, the radioactive tracer dose can be further reduced in the body by drinking sufficient fluids on the day of the test.

Frequent urination further reduces the dose. If your child was given a tracer, we recommend changing wet nappies frequently on the day of the test.

There is no legal limit on the maximum number of tests you can have. These are low radiation doses, for diagnostic purposes only. This is not comparable to the doses commonly used in radiotherapy (used to treat cancer with radiotherapy). We weigh the advantages with the possible risks every time we consider a test. As long as the study is beneficial to the patient, it may be performed.

Not all tests use the same radiation dose. The radiation dose depends on the type of test.

• The SPECT camera in our department does not emit any radiation. The machine only detects radiation that is emitted from a mildly radioactive tracer that has been administered to you or your child.
• For some tests, a CT scan is performed at the same time. The machine very briefly emits a limited amount of X-rays. The nurse will tell you if this is the case.
• For the most common test performed in our department, the SPECT/CT of the skeleton, the radiation dose varies between 5 - 12 mSv. That is comparable to exposure to the natural background radiation in Belgium over a period of two to five years. Many tests actually use a much lower dose of radiation.

Tests that utilise X-rays or mildly radioactive tracers may be used in children, as long as the medical importance of such tests is greater than possible risks. Children are far more sensitive to the effects of radiation than adults. Your physician will first consider techniques that do not use radiation.

The unborn baby or babies are very sensitive to radioactive exposure. It is imperative to inform us in advance if you are (potentially) pregnant or if you are breastfeeding.

If you must have a test performed with Nuclear Medicine, we ask that you not have young children accompany you to the test.

• Pregnant women must inform their requesting physician and the physician and/or nurse with the Nuclear Medicine Department about their pregnancy.
• Are you pregnant (or suspect you may be)? You must also inform staff if there is a possibility that you may be pregnant. Women who are breastfeeding must also notify our staff.

Non-urgent examinations can be postponed, if necessary. A technique without radiation may possibly be performed. In certain cases, a test that uses a mildly radioactive tracer may still be the indicated choice.

Yes. An ultrasound or an MRI scan does not use X-rays. However, it is not possible to use these techniques for every medical issue. For this reason, it may be that using these techniques does not offer a solution for your condition and medical question.

After the mildly radioactive tracer has been administered, there is a very low amount of radiation around the patient. If it is necessary to limit contact with others the day of the test, the staff member with our department will inform you of this.

For tests involving the skeleton, the heart, blood flow in the brain or white blood cell scans, we recommend that adult patients avoid unnecessary long or close contact with pregnant women and children younger than 6 years old for twelve hours after the injection. The amount of radioactive tracer we use for children is so low that there are no restrictions for contact afterwards.

The majority of mildly radioactive tracers is excreted in urine. The day of the examination:

• drink sufficient fluids
• empty the bladder regularly
• pee sitting down, flush with the lid closed and wash the hands thoroughly.

If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to ask our staff with the Nuclear Medicine Department.