Radiation exposure and protection in radionuclide-guided surgery

Type: IDP (Informatics)
Student: Radu Diaconescu
Advisor: Nassir Navab, Sibylle Ziegler
Supervision by: Philipp Matthies, Asli Okur, Dzhoshkun Shakir

Abstract

Radionuclide-guided surgery is becoming more and more popular, due to the emergence of novel intra-operative imaging modalities like, but not limited to, FreehandSPECT. Intra-operative modalities like this provide real-time guidance to the OR staff, especially the surgeon, in making correct decisions, and therefore have a growing impact on the workflow. Thereby one question to be answered is: What is the dosis and effect of the radiation exposure of the OR stuff?

Task

This project aims to provide a basis for answering the question of the effect of radiation exposure on the OR stuff. In addition, intra-operative radiation protection mechanisms are to be studied.

Methods

After defining a theoretical basis for modeling the radiation exposure in radionuclide-guided surgery, simulations are to be made for validating this model.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of nuclear physics
• Familiarity with state-of-the-art radiotracers used in nuclear imaging
• Background in medicine (especially in the physiology of radio-labeled molecules) is of advantage