Veterinary technician takes the lead on radiation safety study

The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association published an article last year to take a deeper look at radiation safety understanding in veterinary medicine. The researchers, led by Lisa Carstens, RVT, Erik Fausak, MSLIS, RVT, and Mathieu Spriet, DVM, MS DACVR, DECVDI, used decades worth of published literature on occupational radiation exposure during PET/CT imaging with the radiotracer 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose in PET scans, according to an organizational release from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.¹

The research titled “A scoping review measuring occupational exposure for personnel conducting whole-body scans in small animal veterinary practice and human medical practice using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography,” screened 643 studies, which were then narrowed down to 32 which met stringent inclusion criteria.

Within the studies that met the criteria, 5 were for veterinary patients which highlighted a significant gap in veterinary special data. Clearer safety guidance for professionals working with PET/CT technology in animal hospitals was shown to be needed based on those findings.

“As veterinary medicine embraces advanced imaging modalities such as PET/CT, we have a responsibility—not only to our patients, but to our colleagues—to ensure that radiation exposure remains as low as reasonably achievable,” said Carstens.¹

“This review shows that veterinary technicians are most often the ones at the front lines of imaging procedures. By recognizing and measuring our exposure, we can advocate for safer workflows, improved protocols, and appropriate protections for everyone involved,” she continued.

Occupational radiation doses reported across studies in animal and human medicine fell within the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission limits. But for veterinary professionals, they often spend more time in close contact with patients before and after radiotracer administration compared to human medicine because veterinary patients tend to require sedation or general anesthesia.² This difference between animal and human medicine could indicate that occupational exposure may increase for veterinary professionals, especially technicians who often receive the highest exposure due to being responsible for preparing and administering radiopharmaceuticals and patients throughout the procedure.

Understanding the occupational risk is essential for veterinary professionals and institutions using PET/CT because large amounts and frequencies of radiation exposure can be harmful. Radiation exposure can damage DNA within cells which can then cause mutations that could cause serious health conditions, including cancer.

In conclusion to their study, Carstens, Fausak, and Spriet call for future research measuring radiation in real-world veterinary PET/CT settings directly to gain a better understanding of the opportunities and risks related to radiation exposure for veterinary professionals.

References

1. Hinds T. Veterinary technician-led team advances radiation safety research. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. December 19, 2025. Accessed January 5, 2026. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/veterinary-technician-led-team-advances-radiation-safety-research
2. Carstens L, Fausak E, Spriet M. A scoping review measuring occupational exposure for personnel conducting whole-body scans in small animal veterinary practice and human medical practice using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2025;263(S2):S36-S44. doi:https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.03.0162