[Is the post-therapeutic dosimetry of patients with short-term hospitalization after 131I therapy sufficiently reliable?].
OBJECTIVE
According to the new recommendations of the Federal German Radiation Protection Committee (SSK) for patient discharge, that were published in April 1997, patients can be discharged after radioiodine therapy with a radiation exposure of less than 1 mSv per year in 2 m distance. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the measurement of the achieved dose was different 48 hours after application of I-131 and after an interval of one week. The study was planned in order to ensure quality management in the follow-up of the patients.


METHODS
In a prospective study 115 patients were followed, that were treated for a benign thyroid disease. The patients were discharged 48 hours after the intake of I-131 after falling short of the exposure limit. All patients were measured at discharge and about 8 days later with the same uptake facility.


RESULTS
Because of similar results focal and disseminated forms of benign thyroid diseases could be analysed together. The calculated doses 8 days after the discharge were higher than the values at the time of discharge. The doses were underestimated about 4% with an standard error of 15%.


CONCLUSIONS
The error in early dosimetric measurements is small in comparison to the overall uncertainty in therapy and uptake dosimetry. A valid dosimetry and sufficient quality management can be guaranteed even for an early discharge.
Körber
C
C
Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Universität Würzburg.
Schneider
P
P
Hänscheid
H
H
Köck
P R
PR
Reiners
C
C
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage / Q000592:standards*; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes