Journal of Medical Physics and Applied Sciences

Evaluation of Radiation Safety Parameters from Patients Receiving I-131 Therapy for Thyroid Carcinoma

Background: Patients with thyroid cancer who receive I-131 treatment in radiotherapy centers are considered a source of external dose received by the workers in these centers as well as the family and the population.

Objective: To evaluate the External Dose Rate (EDR) and Retained Body Activity (RBA) as a function of time and distance during administration of I-131, as well as calculate the urinity radioiodine excretion.

Methods: One hundred and fifty patients were recruited and divided into two groups: The ablation Group (A) and the follow-up Group (B) the EDR, RBA and urinity radioiodine excretion were measured using a digital radiation dosimeter.

Results: Equations have been demonstrated to calculate the EDR and the RBA as a function of time (h) at distances of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 m after administration of I-13. Also urinary iodine excretion in 20 patients for each group was measured to find out the excretion of radioiodine into domestic drainage system.

Conclusion: The equations that were established to calculate the EDR as well as the RBA for a period of up to 96 hours after I-131 administration are useful for estimating radiation doses from patients at radiotherapy centers and could help the workers to minimal exposure.

Author(s): Abdulrahman Mofreh Al-Esaei1, Emran Eisa Saleh2*, Sharief El Maghraby3, Tamer Mahmoud El Sayed4 and Amr Mohamed Ismail Kany5

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