Radiation Protection Opportunities in Medical Imaging

Dear Colleagues,

A large part of medical imaging is based on techniques involving the use of ionizing radiations. This has spurred interest to reduce the risks associated with ionizing radiations for both patients and personnel. Recent advances in hardware and software are enabling high-quality imaging with a lower radiation dose when compared to older technologies. Higher awareness has improved justification and optimization while reducing dose variations that are not dependent on the clinical situation of the patient. Moreover, dose management systems are currently able to monitor doses associated with all performed procedures, giving the opportunity to detect dose performances that need to be improved in a timely manner. In this setting, continuing education for healthcare professionals is pivotal to minimize unnecessary examinations and radiation exposure, while training radiologists and radiographers is mandatory to optimize data acquisition and reduce dose variability.

This Special Issue will focus on pertinent research papers, perspectives, and reviews informing readers about innovative approaches to radiation protection in medical imaging implemented for the benefit of patients and personnel. We welcome submissions describing how radiation protection can be seen not only as a tool for reducing risk, but also as an opportunity to improve the quality of the procedures that are carried out in imaging centers around the world. Manuscripts that cover issues about justification and optimization and technological advances in image acquisition are encouraged. Of interest are applications of artificial intelligence enabling data acquisition optimization with lower radiation dose exposure as well as radiation dose monitoring by means of dedicated software tools. Dose monitoring is particularly challenging in interventional radiology: we encourage submissions that describe technologies enabling real-time monitoring of the doses to patients as well as personnel in interventional radiology, including innovative dosimetry approaches and Internet of Things applications. Radiation protection of patients and staff is an important issue in nuclear medicine as well; therefore, manuscripts on radiation safety in diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine are highly appreciated.

Prof. Dr. Davide Caramella
Dr. Chiara Pozzessere
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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