Case Report: Radiopharmaceutical extravasation, radiation paranoia, and chilling effect

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has stated they oppose reporting significant extravasations to patients or authorities, arguing such incidents are rare and not severe. They warn against causing unnecessary fear or reluctance toward nuclear medicine due to “radiation paranoia.” However, this stance seems at odds with actual clinical experiences, including a severe case at a center focused on minimizing radiopharmaceutical extravasations. Transparency with patients, contrary to causing fear, has been found to foster trust. Ignoring the real frequency and severity of extravasations might undermine patient confidence in the nuclear medicine community. Full Text