Experts at a recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting in Vienna have emphasized the urgent need to update radiation protection measures for patients in nuclear medicine. With approximately 40 million diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures performed annually and rapid advancements in radiopharmaceuticals and imaging technologies, existing guidelines are becoming outdated. The meeting united health professionals, regulators, and researchers from 35 countries, who collectively identified challenges and recommended enhancements in radiation protection practices. Key points included the promising results of new nuclear medicine procedures and the increasing role of artificial intelligence in improving dose calculation accuracy. There is also a call for enhanced training and access to high-performance equipment to improve adherence to safety practices and reduce patient exposure risks. The IAEA plans to develop new publications and training to ensure the relevance of radiation protection practices. The findings from the meeting, including recommendations, will be made available in a summary report. For further information and resources on radiation protection, the IAEA provides an e-learning course and plans to address nuclear medicine topics at an upcoming conference in December 2025.
Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:17:19 GMT | IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)