Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF ISTANBUL FACULTY OF MEDICINE-ISTANBUL TIP FAKULTESI DERGISI, 2024 (ESCI)
Objective: Iodine-131 ( 131 I) treatment offers imaging advantages due to its emission of high-energy gamma radiation, despite concerns being raised regarding radiation safety. Various rules and standards for radiation protection have been established internationally and nationally. Patients undergoing this treatment can present a risk of external radiation exposure to the people around them. The purpose of this study is to measure the radiation dose rates around patients who have undergone treatment and to assess the effects of cumulative doses received by those who have been exposed. Material and Method: The study includes a total of 44 patients who had undergone radioactive iodine therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer and measures their thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and 24-hour radioiodine uptake. The 131 I doses administered to the patients were recorded. Following treatment, external dose rates (EDR) were measured at distances of 30 cm and 1 m from the patients at 0, 4, 24, 48, 72, 144, and 240 h post 131 I treatment. Radiation exposure was calculated by considering three scenarios for those accompanying the patient. Result: The study calculated the median TSH values of the 44 patients as 81.74 +/- 41.98 mlU/L, while the median of their 24hour uptake values was determined as 6.39 +/- 8.42%. The mean administered treatment dose was 5.28 GBq (+/- 1.3). A correlation was observed between the initial 24-hour measurements and the administered dose. Furthermore, another correlation was found between the measurements taken after the 24th hour and the 24 -hour uptake value. The radiation exposure for accompanying individuals was estimated to range between 0.4-1.62 mSv across three scenarios. Conclusion: Patients receiving 131I I treatment should be given comprehensive information about the importance of radiation protection after treatment and the precautions to be taken during isolation.