Dianne Georgian-Smith MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sandra Neustel PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The purpose was to determine how many and which CT scans are performed on PET/CT fusion scanners by PET/CT technologists.

A survey of registrants was conducted by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists ARRT).The sample was selected on their primary and secondary employment as combinations of nuclear medicine technologists(NMT) and fusion or NMT & CT. 676 technologists qualified: currently registered and staff(lead)technologists. The survey was sent to a random sample of 400. Out of 400 surveys, 173 responded (43%). Responses to items concerning percent of time spent in various modalities and the numbers of patients imaged were used to identify 56 respondents as PET/CT technologists.

PET/CT respondents (n=56) were either staff (n=35) or lead technologists (n=21). 52% (n=29) of respondents work in community or university hospitals; 10% (n=6) work in mobile PET/CT units. All respondents have ARRT NMT certificate,none have the CT certificate, and half (48%)have a radiography certificate. Based on percent of time (mean=54%) and number of patients per week (mean=25), respondents spend most of their time in PET/CT or NMT. The survey consisted of a list of 53 CT-only procedures which form the ARRT CT clinical experience requirements. 50% (n=28) of respondents identified 18 procedures as requirements they could fulfill (i.e. the procedure could be performed 3 to 5 times within a 24 month period). The average frequency of performance for the 18 procedures was at least 1 time in the past 6 months. Quality assurance procedures (calibration checks, CT number, standard deviation, etc) had higher endorsement rates (mean=70%) and higher frequencies (mean=1.7 times in 6 months). When performing PET/CT scans, the vast majority (93%) use preset protocols "all" or "most" of the time.

This study documents that PET/CT technologists are mainly performing fusion scans; CT-only scans are not widely performed by PET/CT technologists on fusion scanners. Many of the CT-only tasks would be classified as Quality Assurance. Moreover, technologists do not modify protocols but use presets "all" or "most" of the time.

D.G.: D.Georgian-Smith,MD is a consultant for the ARRT.S.N.: S.Neustel, PhD.is a psychometrician for the ARRT.

Georgian-Smith, D, Neustel, S, The Merging of Technology and Practice: A Survey of PET/CT Technologists to Determine Which CT-only Scans Are Performed on Fusion Scanners.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4407185.html