About this Program

Medical uses of radiation have grown very rapidly over the past two decades, and remains as the largest source of manmade ionizing radiation exposure to the U.S. population. Additionally, non-ionizing radiation from Magnetic Resonance Imaging also presents unique hazards.  Engineering controls from properly designed and installed safety barriers (shielding) are among the most effective strategies for protecting individuals from the hazards unique to Radiology. Therefore, understanding the design and evaluation of shields for radioactive sources, x-ray producing equipment, and MRI systems are essential for maintaining a safe imaging environment.  This 4-part webinar will provide you with an in depth look at shielding common Radiology modalities including radiography, mammography, fluoroscopy, CT, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, SPECT/CT, PET/CT, and Radiopharmaceutical Therapy. 

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

Session 1 - Ionizing Radiation Shielding Basics

  • Understand important shielding concepts including permitted dose, workload, occupancy factor, use factor, barrier transmission factor, tenth-value and half-value layer, and attenuation of typical building materials. 
  • Distinguish the difference between primary and secondary xray radiation. 
  • Describe and the general approach for determining radiation shielding using the graphical method as well as the Archer equation.  
  • Understand the issues concerning radiation personal protective equipment for workers and patients. 
  • Understand the shielding considerations relevant to dental radiography facilities, and perform sample calculations described in NRCP report 177. 

 

 

Session 2 – Radiography, Fluoroscopy,  Mammography and CT

  • Understand the shielding considerations relevant to mobile and fixed radiography, and perform sample calculations described in NCRP report 147. 
  • Understand the shielding considerations relevant to mobile and fixed fluoroscopy, and perform sample calculations described in NCRP report 147.
  • Understand the shielding considerations relevant to mammography, and perform sample calculations described in NCRP report 147.
  • Understand the shielding considerations relevant to computed tomography, and perform sample calculations described in NCRP report 147. 

Session 3 - Nuclear Medicine and Radiopharmaceutical Therapy

  • Describe the relevance of source terms for radionuclides, per-year and per-hour dose limits, as well as shielding for sealed sources, instruments, and radioactive waste. 
  • Describe the general radiation protection requirements in Nuclear Medicine facilities including access control, contamination control, bathrooms, area radiation monitors, and ventilation. 
  • Understand the considerations for determining radiation shielding for uptake and administration suites as well as in-patient radiopharmaceutical therapy suites, and perform sample calculations. 

Session 4 -SPECT/CT, PET/CT and MRI

  • Understand the considerations for determining shielding for SPECT/CT suites, and perform sample calculations. 
  • Understand the considerations for determining shielding for PET/CT suites, and perform sample calculations. 
  • Describe the general considerations for magnetic resonance imaging including the MR-Safety Zone concept, static magnetic field shielding, radiofrequency shielding, and acoustic/mechanical shielding. 

~ AAPM endorses the educational component of this program. ~
It does not, however, endorse any 
product used or referred to in the program.

Schedule

What this course will cover

Session 1 – Ionizing Radiation Shielding Basics
 

  • Permitted dose
  • Occupancy factor
  • Sources of x-ray exposure
  • Models for shielded dose
  • Primary Radiation
    • Workload
    • Use factor
    • Primary transmission
    • Pre-shielding
    • Examples
  • Secondary Radiation
    • Scatter
    • Leakage
    • Secondary transmission
    • Examples
  • Unshielded dose per patient
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Model with per patient workload
  • Examples

Session 2 – Radiography, Fluoroscopy, Mammography and CT

  • Model for representative rooms (NT/Pd2)
  • Radiographic room
  • Rad/Fluoro room
  • Fits of NT/Pd2 data
  • Examples
  • Shielding models for film/screen and FFDM units
  • Shielding data for Tomosynthesis units
  • Examples
  • Shielding Models
  • Mammography
  • CT
    • CTDI-based
    • DLP-based
  • Transmission Data
  • Examples
  • Static Magnetic Field Shielding
  • Radiofrequency Shielding
  • Acoustic/Vibrational Shielding
  • Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) electric field shielding
  • MRI

Session 3 - Nuclear Medicine and Radiopharmaceutical Therapy

 

  • General Requirements 
  • Dose in one hour 
  • Annualized dose 
  • Shielding for nuclear medicine imaging devices 
  • Shielding for Radiopharmaceutical Therapy 
  • Source terms for radionuclides 
  • Special Considerations 
  • Storage for RAM waste 
  • Storage for Phantoms and Sources 
  • In-patient suites 
  • Outpatient suites 
  • Relevant considerations
  • Perform sample calculations 

Session 4 - SPECT/CT, PET/CT and MRI

  • SPECT/CT
  • PET/CT
    • Uptake room
    • Scanner
  • Special Considerations
  • CT “shine”
  • Method for combining both radionuclide and CT shielding
  • Examples
  • Effect of half-life in shielding calculations
  • Transmission data
  • Method of combining both 511 keV and CT shielding
  • F-18 FDG
  • MRI Shielding
  • MRI Zones

Audience

Who should attend?

This webinar is for medical physicists wanting to expand their knowledge on diagnostic and nuclear medicine radiation shielding.  It is also appropriate for medical physics students, residents, fellows, technologists, and biomedical engineers.

Program Faculty

Meet your presenter(s)

Max Amurao

Max Amurao

PhD, MBA, DABR(D,N), MRSE, CMLSO

Max Amurao has been in the Medical Physics and Radiation/Magnet/Laser Safety field for over 20 years. In addition to being heavily involved in Medical Physics education, his clinical practice encompasses Diagnostic Medical Physics, Nuclear Medical Physics, Therapeutic Medical Physics, Radiation and MRI Safety, as well as Laser Safety.
He is a certified Diagnostic Medical Physicist (DABR), Nuclear Medical Physicist (DABR), Medical Laser Safety Officer (CMLSO), Magnetic Resonance Safety Officer (MRSO), Magnetic Resonance Safety Expert (MRSE),and a Health and Safety Professional (CHSP).
Max is based in south Florida, and serves as the Executive Director of the Radiation Control program for the University of Miami, University of Miami Health System, and Jackson Health System.

Credits

Accredited training programs

CAMPEP pending

This program is designed to provide 1.5 (per session) hours of continuing education. The program has been submitted for approval by CAMPEP for Medical Physics Continuing Education Credit (MPCEC) for qualified medical physicists.

 Sessions 1, 2, 3 and 4 CAMPEP approval pending.
ASRT Category A Credit Information

ASRT Category A

This program provides 1.75 hour(s) of Category A continuing education credit for radiologic technologists approved by ASRT and recognized by the ARRT and various licensure states. Category A credit is also recognized for CE credit in Canada. You must attend the entire program to receive your certificate of completion.  

This program provides 1.75 ASRT Category A CE credit per session.  Attendees must attend the entire session to earn the CE credit.

Tuition

Convenient payment options available

AudiencePriceEarly PriceMember PriceMember Early Price
Physicist$65.00$55.00$65.00$65.00
Technologist$55.00$45.00$55.00$55.00

Learn about membership

Early Pricing Guidelines

Qualifying 'Early' registrations must be made at least 4 days in advance for the program.

Cancellation Policy

Webinars less than 8 hours of credit

Refunds, minus a $15 processing fee, will be granted for cancellations received at least 3 days prior to the program. Cancellations received within 3 days of the webinar will receive a credit toward a future MTMI program, minus the $15 processing fee. No refunds will be made after the webinar starts. MTMI reserves the right to cancel any scheduled program because of low advance registration or other reasons. MTMI’s liability is limited to a refund of any program tuition paid. WEBINAR ATTENDEES that cannot log in due to unsolvable technical issues beyond their control will be eligible for a full refund.