The Effect of Electromagnetic Field Generated by a Mobile Phone on the Performance of a SPECT Scanner: A Quantitative Study.

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of the current attempt was quantitative investigation of the electromagnetic interference (EMI) of a mobile phone with the function of a SPECT gamma camera during data acquisition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We tested the effect of a mobile phone, in both ringing mode and standby mode, on one SPECT gamma camera during scanning a cylindrical phantom containing 5.4 mCi (99m)Tc. The experiment was performed for different distances of 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, and 30 cm between mobile phone and head of the scanner, and for different head angles of 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 degrees. A RF-EMF meter measured strength of electromagnetic field throughout the study. Statistically significant decrease in count number was considered to be electromagnetic interference. RESULTS: There was significant reduction in the recorded counts during ringing of the mobile phone in all studied distances. For gamma camera, fixed at a distance, there was no uniform pattern of reduction of the counts at different angles between two operation modes of the mobile phone. CONCLUSIONS: A mobile phone, at close distance, can be a sensible source of electromagnetic field, disturbing the normal function of a gamma camera.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In phantom scanning, recorded counts were significantly reduced during mobile phone ringing mode at all tested distances (10–30 cm). No uniform pattern of count reduction across different head angles was observed when comparing ringing versus standby modes at a fixed distance.

Outcomes measured

• Electromagnetic interference (EMI) with SPECT gamma camera during data acquisition
• Recorded counts (count number) during phantom scan

Limitations

• Single SPECT gamma camera tested
• Phantom study (cylindrical phantom with 99mTc) rather than clinical patient imaging
• Mobile phone characteristics (e.g., model, operating frequency, transmit power) not specified in the abstract
• Outcome defined as count reduction; other image quality metrics not reported in the abstract

Suggested hubs

• medical-device-interference (0.9)
  Study quantifies mobile-phone RF electromagnetic interference with a SPECT gamma camera during acquisition.

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    },
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    "outcomes": [
        "Electromagnetic interference (EMI) with SPECT gamma camera during data acquisition",
        "Recorded counts (count number) during phantom scan"
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    "main_findings": "In phantom scanning, recorded counts were significantly reduced during mobile phone ringing mode at all tested distances (10–30 cm). No uniform pattern of count reduction across different head angles was observed when comparing ringing versus standby modes at a fixed distance.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Single SPECT gamma camera tested",
        "Phantom study (cylindrical phantom with 99mTc) rather than clinical patient imaging",
        "Mobile phone characteristics (e.g., model, operating frequency, transmit power) not specified in the abstract",
        "Outcome defined as count reduction; other image quality metrics not reported in the abstract"
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    "evidence_strength": "low",
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    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic interference",
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        "mobile phone",
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        "gamma camera",
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        "count reduction",
        "nuclear medicine"
    ],
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