Background: Nuclear medicine diagnostic and treatment procedures represent significant sources of ionizing radiation exposure for both staff and patients. Consequently, assessing and optimizing radiation doses are crucial to minimize potential side effects.

Aim: This study seeks to evaluate the effective radiation doses associated with common diagnostic and treatment procedures, as well as propose diagnostic reference levels (DRLs), within two nuclear medicine centers in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Methodology: Data from 445 patients were gathered from two nuclear medicine centers in the Madinah region of Saudi Arabia. The data were categorized based on the type of nuclear medicine (NM) procedure, the chemical composition of the administered radiopharmaceutical, as well as patient age and weight. Effective radiation doses for prevalent NM procedures were computed, and suggested DRLs were formulated.

Results: Effective radiation doses were analyzed for 16 adult and 2 pediatric NM procedures (divided into 8 groups). The effective radiation doses for adult diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures range from 0.05 mSv (Nanocoloid) to 29 mSv (67Ga-citrate). For pediatric procedures, the doses range from 0.80 mSv (5-year-old undergoing renal DTPA) to 1.6 mSv (1-year-old undergoing renal DMSA). Furthermore, DRL values were determined for both adult and pediatric NM procedures. The study's findings demonstrated a high degree of concordance between effective radiation doses and DRL values, aligning well with previously published research.

Conclusion: While the effective radiation doses outlined in this study were generally within acceptable limits and consistent with prior research findings, optimizing radiation doses remains imperative, particularly for pediatric NM procedures.