RADIATION PROTECTION OF THYROID CANCER PATIENTS RECEIVINGI-131 THERAPY: SOME CONSIDERATIONS

摘要

As a preliminary step to investigating the potential usefulness of external Thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD)rnin estimating parameters of radiation dose to the bladder and the gastric mucosa, 27 inpatients treated with Iodinern131 (60-200 mCi or 2.22-7.4 GBq) for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (19 receiving the iodine in a capsule andrn8 in solution form) were studied. Doses and ages were similar in both group as was fluid intake (ad lib butrncarefully recorded for each case). The TLDs were placed over the urinary bladder and in standard positions in thernepigastrium (xiphoid and left subcostal area) and total doses for 22 hours (bladder) as well as total doses andrndose rates (epigastrium) at various times from 5 to 90 minutes were recorded.rnBoth bladder dose and integral dose for 90 minutes over the stomach showed statistically significant positivernlinear correlation with the administered I-131 activity . No correlation with the amount of fluid intake wasrnfound. The 90 minute integral dose at the epigastrium per mCi administered was found to be higher in therncapsule group by 70%. Six out of 27 patients reported some discomfort (6/19 and 0/8 for capsule and liquidrngroup respectively, p=0.13). The possible significance of these findings is discussed.