The IAEA, together with the Government of Uruguay-through its National Regulatory Authority for Radiation Protection (ARNR) of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining-held a regional training course on radiation protection in PET and SPECT-CT for nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists, in Montevideo from 20-22 May. The Uruguayan Centre of Molecular Imaging (CUDIM) and the Centre for Nuclear Medicine and Imaging of the Clinical Hospital of Uruguay collaborated in the event.

The course focused on radiation protection in hybrid imaging techniques of positron emission tomography (PET), X-ray computed tomography, and PET-CT, in which functional and metabolic information of the patient is combined with anatomical information. This innovative technology allows differential diagnosis in oncology, neurology and cardiology, among other fields and disciplines.

The radiation doses to patients, workers, and the public were discussed, together with radiation protection methods, equipment, and strategies which allow healthcare providers to obtain the greatest benefit from these practices while adequately protecting patients and the public.

The course was attended by 36 professionals from 15 Latin American countries. The course's lecturers ?included Eduardo Savio (CUDIM), Juan Carlos Hermida (Clinical Hospital), Alejandro Nader (ARNR and course director) and Pedro Ortiz López (IAEA technical officer). The director of the ARNR, Walter Cabral, participated in, opened, and closed the event.

For more information, please see the ARNR's coverage of the regional training course.?