Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential during nuclear medicine procedures?

The essential personal protective equipment (PPE) during nuclear medicine procedures includes lead aprons and thyroid shields due to their crucial role in protecting healthcare workers from radiation exposure.

Lead aprons are specifically designed to attenuate and shield against scatter radiation, which is a significant concern in nuclear medicine because of the radioactive materials used in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. By wearing a lead apron, healthcare professionals can significantly reduce their radiation dose while performing their duties close to patients receiving radioactive tracers.

Thyroid shields are important for protecting the thyroid gland, which is particularly sensitive to radiation. Given that many radiopharmaceuticals can emit ionizing radiation, wearing a thyroid shield adds an additional layer of protection against potential exposure.

Although gloves and goggles, face masks and gowns, and safety shoes and headgear are important in various healthcare settings, they do not specifically address the radiation hazards encountered in nuclear medicine as comprehensively as lead aprons and thyroid shields do.