Assessment of weight-based variations in effective dose for common PET/CT scans in a tertiary hospital

Al Said AT 1 , Rahman AA 1 , Albadarneh LK 2 , Oglat AA 3 , Binti A Halim FN 4 , Firas W 5 Show all authors , Alshloul Y 6 , Radaideh KM 2

Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Minden, Penang, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Medical Radiologic Technologies, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al Al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan
  • 3 Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan
  • 4 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Penang General Hospital, Penang, Malaysia
  • 5 Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan
  • 6 Princess Basma Teaching Hospital, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 9, Irbid 21110, Jordan
Radiat Prot Dosimetry, 2026 Nov 02;202(18):1477-1485.
PMID: 42560334 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncag078

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) is a crucial imaging modality widely used for diagnosing and staging various cancers. Although patient weight is known to influence radiation dose, there is limited research on optimizing PET/CT protocols based on weight categories to minimize unnecessary exposure.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the effective dose for common PET/CT scans at Penang Hospital, with a particular focus on the influence of patient weight on both PET and CT dose components. Additionally, the study assesses whether weight-based dose protocols can contribute to dose optimization.

METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 1439 PET/CT scans performed at Penang Hospital. The effective dose was calculated using International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 103, 106, and 128 dose coefficients. Conversion factors used were 0.019 mSv/MBq for 18F-FDG, 0.0199 mSv/MBq for 68Ga-PSMA, and 0.021 mSv/MBq for 68Ga-DOTATATE. The CT dose component was estimated using the dose-length product (DLP) with an empirical conversion factor (k = 0.015 mSv·mGy-1·cm-1) for whole-body CT.

RESULTS: The total effective dose for 18F-FDG (head-to-thigh and head-to-feet) scans was 12.34 and 16.38 mSv, respectively. For 68Ga-PSMA and 68Ga-DOTATATE scans, the total effective dose was 11.55 and 12.00 mSv, respectively. A statistically significant increase in dose was observed in heavier patients due to increased administered activity and CT parameters (P 

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