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ST 6.2 –
Protección radiológica de Trabajadores II (orientada a la medicina)
OCCUPATIONAL RADIATION PROTECTION IN THE
MEDICAL CYCLOTRON FACILITIES
Hernández Alvarez, Ramón*; Jerez Veguería, Pablo Fabián;
Soler Bascó, Karen
Centro Nacional de Seguridad Nuclear (CNSN). Cuba.
* Autor responsable, email: ramon@orasen.co.cu
The positron emission tomography (PET) has become an important type of diagnosis through
images in Nuclear Medicine (NM) providing more precise information and per se a better tool for
an exact and useful diagnostic. Based on the previous statement, it can be said that a new era
in Nuclear Medicine started with the development and vertiginous diffusion of medical
cyclotrons. These are intended to produce positron emitters on a large scale such as: F-18, N-
13 and C-11, which are the starting point to synthesize radiopharmaceuticals that are used in
PET. The cyclotron and the radiopharmacy facilities, where the chemical synthesis of the PET
radiopharmaceuticals is carried out pose a significant radiation risk on account of the high dose
rate and the high energy of the radiation as well as the amount of unsealed radioactive material
that is involved. For these reasons, safety systems, interlocks, warnings and a high degree of
automation are required for achieving a safe operation. This paper presents an overview of the
safety systems (interlocks, warning systems) that are commonly used to ensure an appropriate
exploitation of this technology, the training program for workers and procedures to apply in order
to reduce the occupational doses.