Ignalina project
The project „Support to licensing activities related to the decommissioning of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant to the Radiation Protection Centre” was started in 2007.
The main aim of the project – to strengthen a competence of the Radiation Protection Centre in assessment of radiation protection related aspects during decommissioning of Ignalina NPP.
The Radiation Protection Centre in 2007-2008 will evaluate a number of documents, such as safety assessment reports, environmental impact analysis documents. It will be done in co-operation with project partners.
It is also planned to review the system of radiological monitoring, done by the Radiation Protection Centre.
The Radiation Protection Centre plays an important role in optimization of radiation protection, assessment of exposure and radiological monitoring.
National IAEA TC co-operation project „Optimization of Radiation Protection of Patients in Diagnostic Radiology through the Monitoring of Patient Doses”
A number of problems relating to radiation protection of patients in diagnostic radiology are connected with the practical implementation of optimized radiation protection measures (management of patient doses and assurance of proper image quality). Doses received by patients are a good indicator of the level of optimization. However, problems are encountered in the measurement of these doses, quality assurance of these measurements, interpretation of the results of measurements, elaboration of advice for hospitals exceeding the established recommended levels, fostering understanding of the role of guidance levels for medical exposure, and the control of image quality.
In order to facilitate to solve these problems the national TC co-operation project was started in 2007. Its objective is creation of a patient dose management system in diagnostic radiological procedures through assessment of patient doses and effective use of guidance levels.
The following activities are carried out within this project: expert mission, study visits, seminars and workshops, measurements of patients doses, supply of equipment, preparation and publication of recommendations on practical optimization of patients doses.
Regional IAEA Technical cooperation projects
IAEA has the entire system of regional projects of technical co-operation. The Radiation Protection Centre takes part in these projects according to its competence.
Regional model projects are very important because they have an aim of creation of radiation protection infrastructures. Lithuania is one of the member states from Central and Eastern Europe which successfully achieved this aim. The Radiation Protection Centre is included in the
network of centers of excellence.
Regional projects with involvement of the Radiation Protection Centre:
- RER/3/004 Radiological Support for the Rehabilitation of the Areas Affected by the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident
- RER/6/013 Quality Assurance Team in Radiation Oncology (QUATRO): Improving the Quality of Radiotherapy Services
- RER/6/014 Improving Clinical Practice in Nuclear Medicine
- RER/6/015 Strengthening Regional Capacity in Medical Radiation Physics
- RER/6/016 Improving Clinical Practice in Radiation Oncology
- RER/9/089 Development of National Capabilities for Protecting the Health and Safety of Workers Occupationally Exposed to Ionizing Radiation
- RER/9/090 Education and Training in Support of Radiation Protection Infrastructures
- RER/9/091 Establishment of National Capabilities for Response to a Radiological and Nuclear Emergency
- RER/9/092 Strengthening National Infrastructures for the Control of Radiation Sources (TSA-1)
- RER/9/093 Strengthening Radiological Protection of Patients and Medical Exposure Control
- RER/9/094 Upgrading National Capabilities in Controlling Public Exposure
Project „Improvement of capacity of services, essential for radiation protection in medicine – mammography screening”
According to the requirements of the European Directive 97/43 medical exposure shall be justified and radiation protection of patients shall be optimized. Identification and implementation of practical measures of justification and optimization is problematic due to lack of information on new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, new data on existing techniques.
Lithuania is making efforts in solving these problems. The appropriate legislation has been drafted, approved and is in force. Practical aspects were dealt with in Matra program “Improvement of capacity of services, essential for radiation protection in medicine” which included conventional radiology and computed tomography. The results achieved in this program are used by all the Lithuanian hospitals which are creating and implementing quality systems in radiology. The achievements of the program are considered as very important.
The problems remain in mammography screening. It is becoming more and more widely applied, however, specific aspects of this type of practice (quality control of equipment, procedures, clinical audits, training of staff) remain unclear.
The project was started in 2007. The main purpose of the project would be creation of self-sustaining system of optimization of radiation protection in mammography screening.
The project is implemented in co-operation with the Dutch National Institute of Public Health and National Expert and Training Centre for Breast Cancer Screening of the Netherlands.
Such activities as expert and study visits, seminars, information exchange are planned.
