ICRP Publication 52

Protection of the Patient in Nuclear Medicine

This publication is concerned with exposures of patients resulting from the administration of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic, therapeutic and research purposes, including some recommendations on protection of the patient’s family. The report advises on the factors that influence absorbed doses (and hence radiation risks) to patients from different types of nuclear medicine examinations and indicates ways by which these risks can be minimized without detriment to intended medical benefits. This report supersedes ICRP publication 17 and, together with ICRP publications 34 and 44, completes a series of three reports dealing with protection of the patient exposed to ionizing radiation in medicine. It should be read in conjunction with ICRP Publication 53, Radiation Dose to Patients from Radiopharmaceuticals.