39. DGMP Tagung 2008 in Oldenburg
The Situation of Medical Physics in Iran
Fatemeh Ebrahimi 1, Golam Abdul Zakaria2, Heiner von Boetticher3, Björn Poppe1
1
Dept. of Radiation Therapy, PIUS Hospital, Academic Teaching Hospital of the
University of Goettingen, Germany
2
Dept. of Med. Radiation Physics, Gummersbach Hospital, Academic Teaching
Hospital of the University of Cologne, Germany
3
Institut für Radiologie und Seminar für Strahlenschutz, Klinikum Links der Weser,
Bremen
In 1986, medical physics has been introduced as an individual course in Iran. At that time Tarbiat Modares
University was the only university in Tehran city, where M.Sc. degree in Medical Physics has been introduced.
At present there are 7 universities where M.Sc. degree in Medical physics and 4 universities where Ph.D. degree
in Medical physics are given. The universities for awarding Ph.D. degree and M.Sc. degree are as follows:
Ph.D. degree: Tehran University, Tarbiat Modares University, Mashhad University and Esfahan University
M.Sc. degree: Tehran University, Tarbiat Modares University, Mashhad University, Iran University, Tabriz
University, Ahvaz University and Esfahan University.
Medical Physics in Iran is also classified to Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Therapy, Diagnostic Imaging and
Health Physics as other countries in the world.
Current Status and History of Nuclear Medicine in Iran
About 47 years ago, nuclear medicine had been started in practice in Iran. The pioneer of the nuclear medicine in
Iran is Prof. Nezam Mafi, in 1961. He and his colleagues started their studies in the field of Endocrinology
particularly thyroid function evaluation with a simple thyroid probe. For the first time they expanded their
research activities in different aspects in nuclear medicine at the Tehran University in 1965. Progressively with
the development of new technology, new radioisotopes, nuclear equipment, Tehran University hospitals became
well established clinical centers for nuclear medicine. Private clinics also developed nuclear medicine centers
accordingly.
At this moment there are 148 nuclear medicine centers, around the country, mostly equipped with advanced
technology of which 72 state owned and 76 private. There are 114 operational gamma cameras in Iran of which,
41 are SPECT systems (24 more are ordered), 38 are planar systems (3 additional ones under contract), and 35
are single and multi-headed scanners. In addition, there are 2 coincidence PET systems installed, one operating
at AEOI (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran) coupled with cyclotron and the other at the Shariati hospital, a
teaching hospital of Tehran University. Nuclear medicine procedures are mainly practiced for cardiac, brain,
tumors and etc.
Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI)
From 1961 to 1967, the first Iranian nuclear power plant had been built in Tehran University by Americans. The
AEOI has been established as a research center for the application of nuclear techniques in various fields
including nuclear medicine in 1986. With the technical assistance and financial support of IAEA, AEOI has been
able to take part an important role in several nuclear technologies. Production of radionuclide, cold kits such as
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39. DGMP Tagung 2008 in Oldenburg
MDP, MIBI, DTPA, DMSA, MIBG, EC, ECD, and HMPAO and RIA kits and optimization of all aspects of
nuclear medicine are the activities of AEOI. After installation of a powerful cyclotron in AEOI, this organization
provides a huge amount of radiopharmaceuticals for all nuclear medicine centers in the country (for example CuPTSM). AEOI provides daily needs of generators (Mo99/Tc99m), I-131, I-123, Ga67 citrate, Kr81m; In-111, Tl201, and now production of FDG supports us for performing PET imaging. AEOI also provides all QA and QC
programs and maintenance services for nuclear medicine systems in all nuclear medicine centers in Iran. In
addition, AEOI renders all radioprotection services throughout the country by performing dosimetry in both
therapeutic and protection levels. It also offers training courses in radiation protection for eligible staff.
Radiation Therapy
Radiotherapy has been introduced about 65 years ago in Iran. Early the radiation therapy is given by the x-ray
units and now modern devices in radiation therapy are available. Dr. Dehshiri and Dr. Ghafari were the pioneers’
radiation oncologists in Iran. First cobalt-60 unit had been established in Emam Khomeyni Hospital in Tehran
and then linear accelerator around 1970 in Iran. The total number of radiation therapy units was 41 units in all
over the country, estimated in 2003. Dr. Agha Miri from Shahid Beheshti University has recently announced that
radiation therapy units will be manufactured in Iran soon and also some will be imported from abroad according
to necessity.
Diagnostic Imaging
Iranian Radiographic Association has been established in 1966. It was named as technological radiology
association and in 1994 that name has been replaced as “Iranian Radiographic Sciences Association” (IRSA).
The IRSA has 6 members whom are selected every each 3 year by radiographers.
One of the activities of this association is to contact with related scientific organization, publication of a journal
of “radiographer”. IRSA celebrates every year in 8th November the anniversary of discovery of x-ray with the
presence of the members, professors and students. It has been estimated from 2000, there were 171 state owned
CT scan units (44 Shimadoze, 41 GE, 16 Balance, 48 Siemens, 21 Toshiba and 9 Piker) and 30 MRI in Iran.
After the graduation students get involved in various areas in radiotherapy such as in hospital, University, AEOI
(health physics, SSDL section), medical instrument company. Involvement in these areas mainly categorized
according to their thesis topic.
Iranian Association of Medical Physics (IAMP)
The society of Iranian medical physics has been established in Tabriz University in 1991. The goal of this
society is to improve the quality of medical physicist and organizing activity of medical physicists in Iran. It was
named at first Iranian Medical Physics Association. This society has connection with the IOMP (International
Organization of Medical Physics) and in 10 Sep. 1993, Iran became a permanent member of IOMP.
In June 1994, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran organized a workshop on the radiation therapy and
oncology, was held with the collaboration of IOMP and AAPM, IAMP. This was very successful workshop
where some famous professors like Prof. Faiz M. Khan, Prof. Bodat Palyoal, Prof. James Predi, Dr. Hamfriz and
Dr. Azam Niromand Rad participated. It was very helpful for the medical physicists.
This association (IAMP) publishes a seasonal specific journal providing latest news in the area of medical
physics, advertisement of the vendors of the instruments or materials of medical physics and announces the
coming congresses and workshops. There is another journal name “Iranian Journal of Medical Physics” in this
field publishes seasonally by the University of Mashhad. This journal is specialized for publishing the latest
scientific papers mainly M.Sc. and Ph.D. thesis of the medical physics students from different Iranian
universities.
The Iranian congress of medical physics usually held in every two years. It is mostly a national congress
though some participants also participate from the other countries. The participants are mostly medical physicists
and also from other majors like medical engineering, laser, radiation medicine, solid state physics and nuclear
physics.
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