Radiation protection measures of agents exposed to OctreoTher: product using 90Y

In nuclear department of Tours, dosimetry surveillance is passive with counting of monthly dose, but we do not study radiation exposure along time of medical and paramedical agents. In this study we wanted to study the real radiation exposure of two categories of agents working in the therapeutic protocol of neuroendocrine tumours with somatostatin analogue radiolabeled with 90-yttrium (OctreoTher - Novartis). Thus we used operational dosimeter and we identified moments when exposure was maximum. Then we could take measures to limit the radioactive exposure of agents. In the in vitro nuclear department laboratory, storage of empty bottles of OctreoTher and treatment of radioactive waste were the optimum radioactive exposure moments for these agents. We then used Plexiglas boxes to reduce this skin equivalent dose from 240 μSv to 15 μSv. For the nurses who took in charge the treatment with 90Y octreotide (OctreoTher), optimum radioactive exposure was perfusion manipulations and removal. We used plumb parapets near the patient and Plexiglas boxes to put perfusion and empty bottles of OctreoTher. We reduced skin equivalent dose from 1300 μSv to 150 μSv. Operational dosimeter allowed us to identify radioactive exposure of agents of in vitro and in vivo nuclear departments during 90Y-OctreoTher treatment of neuroendocrine tumours. During this study we took radioprotection measures to reduce significantly the received equivalent dose, essentially with Plexiglas boxes and plumb parapets during the perfusion of 90Y-OctreoTher and radioactive waste treatment. (authors)