Radiation protection aspects of 131-I treatment

Therapy of the thyroid with 131I for hyperfunction or cancer is a common procedure. With T1/2 effective known, calculation of radiation dose is possible. New programmed data on T1/2 eff under therapeutic conditions were collected from more than 100 patients for: calculation of radiation dose in the thyroid and to determine the right moment to dismiss the patient in relation to radiation protection. It was realised that a long T1 /2 eff gives a greater radiation hazard at home and that a short T1/2 eff enlarges the contamination hazard and direct radiation of the thyroid for the family. In Leyenburg Hospital, is the dose level in the neck of the patient, restricted on 2 mCi before dismissal. Given doses varied from 5 to 30 millicuries. The T1/2 eff measured, varied from 3,5 to 7,7 days with uptakes between 50 and 90+ %. The tabulated results are of great importance for management and planning: for every dose it is possible to inform the ward and the patient about the duration of expected hospitalisation. The Tables are principally made for the 2 mCi level in the neck, but are easily adaptable for other values