Article

Radiation protection management for the deceased patients in nuclear medicine. Part 1: staff in charge of body transport and embalming

Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection (ASNR), F-92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France

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Received: 14 March 2025
Accepted: 7 September 2025

Abstract

In France, in 2007 and 2008, a few deaths occurred for patients who had recently undergone nuclear medicine treatments. Following these events, since there were few guidelines, the French Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) investigated radiation protection measures applicable after the death of such patients. An initial study conducted between 2008 and 2016 was updated in 2022 to account for new clinically introduced radionuclides. This article consolidates these efforts to provide a comprehensive overview of operational guidelines for professionals involved in the body transport and embalming of deceased patients after a nuclear medicine treatment. Dose assessments were performed using conservative assumptions based on insights from funeral service professionals. As a result, post-mortem waiting periods required to meet a dose constraint of 300 μSv per operation were established. Except for iodine-131 used in cancer treatment (Sodium iodide, MIBG, and Lipiocis®) and therapeutic indium-111 pentetreotide, the recommended waiting periods were estimated to be less than a week. These recommendations will serve as a valuable resource for nuclear medicine departments and funeral professionals to manage the death of a patient after nuclear medicine treatment.