Workflow-Based Radiation Protection During In-house 18F-FDG Production at a Hospital-based Cyclotron Facility

Automation limits operator contact during routine 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) production, but residual manual tasks and nonroutine interventions may still determine occupational exposure. This study quantified workflow-specific effective dose during in-house FDG production at a hospital-based cyclotron facility. Production records from 39 batches performed from 4 July to 23 August 2024 were reviewed. Two radiological technologists were monitored during seven routine production sessions, and five pharmacists were monitored during 10 quality-control (QC) observations. Semiconductor electronic pocket dosimeters were worn at the head, chest, and abdomen; effective dose was estimated from the three 1-cm dose equivalent readings using a nonuniform exposure formula. For technologists, average effective dose was 0.4 ± 0.1 µSv per session for cyclotron operation and synthesis, 0.2 ± 0.1 µSv for transport, 1.1 ± 0.3 µSv for cleaning, and 1.6 ± 0.3 µSv for the total routine workflow. The average pharmacist QC dose was 2.5 ± 1.2 µSv per observation. Two of 39 batches (5.1%) required a nonroutine intervention. Event-related effective doses were 32.2 µSv for manual recovery after QC vial-transfer failure and 30.7 and 31.6 µSv for two operators recovering residual FDG after incomplete transfer. These values were approximately 19–20 times the average total routine technologist dose. Routine exposure was low, whereas infrequent disruptions produced disproportionate exposure. Radiation protection should therefore combine routine monitoring with prevention, rehearsal, shielding, and time-minimized procedures for manual QC and nonroutine recovery.