8–12 Jul 2025
Politechnica Univ
Europe/Bucharest timezone

DECOMMISSIONING AND CLEARANCE ASSESSMENT OF A DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC NUCLEAR MEDICINE DEPARTMENT IN ALBANIA

10 Jul 2025, 12:10
20m
Politechnica Univ

Politechnica Univ

Splaiul Independenței 313, București 060042
Oral Presentations S02 – Biophysics, Life Sciences, Medical Physics Biophysics, Life Sciences, Medical Physics

Speaker

Brikena Vucaj (University Hospital Centre "Mother Tereza")

Description

This paper presents the decommissioning process of a diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine department located within “Mother Theresa” University Hospital. This department, operated for more than 25 years and served as the sole public provider of nuclear medicine services in the country, using radiopharmaceuticals based on iodine-131 and technetium-99m. Following the relocation of all clinical services to a newly constructed Hospital, a comprehensive radiation monitoring was conducted as part of the clearance protocol. Gamma dose rate measurements, alfa and beta contamination checks and swipe tests were performed across all clinical and storage areas. The results indicated no presence of contamination above national and international clearance levels. This work provides a practical case study on the safe closure and radiological assessment of a nuclear medicine facility and may serve as a guideline for similar future activities in diagnostic imaging and radionuclide therapy services.

Primary author

Brikena Vucaj (University Hospital Centre "Mother Tereza")

Co-authors

Prof. Kozeta Tushe (Institute of Applied Nuclear Physics) Prof. Dritan Prifti (Institute of Applied Nuclear Physics) Ms Zeliha Muco (University Hospital Centre "Mother Tereza")

Presentation materials