title: Outpatient treatment with (131)I-anti-B1 antibody: radiation exposure to family members.
abstract: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations that govern release of patients administered radioactive material have been revised to include dose-based criteria in addition to the conventional activity-based criteria. A licensee may now release a patient if the total effective dose equivalent to another individual from exposure to the released patient is not likely to exceed 5 mSv (500 mrem). The result of this dose-based release limit is that now many patients given therapeutic amounts of radioactive material no longer require hospitalization. This article presents measured dose data for 26 family members exposed to 22 patients treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with (131)I-anti-B1 antibody after their release according to the new NRC dose-based regulations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients received administered activities ranging from 0.94 to 4.77 GBq (25--129 mCi). Family members were provided with radiation monitoring devices (film badges, thermoluminescent or optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters, or electronic digital dosimeters). Radiation safety personnel instructed the family members on the proper wearing and use of the devices. Instruction was also provided on actions recommended to maintain doses to potentially exposed individuals as low as is reasonably achievable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Family members wore the dosimeters for 2--17 d, with the range of measured dose values extending from 0.17 to 4.09 mSv (17--409 mrem). The average dose for infinite time based on dosimeter readings was 32% of the predicted doses projected to be received by the family members using the NRC method provided in regulatory guide 8.39.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapy with (131)I-anti-B1 antibody can be conducted on an outpatient basis using the established recommended protocol. The patients can be released immediately with confidence that doses to other individuals will be below the 5-mSv (500 mrem) limit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Radiation Safety, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5480, USA.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rutar
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Augustine
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colcher
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tempero
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Dukat
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hohenstein
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Gobar
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vose
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D016499:Radioimmunotherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; C119496:tositumomab I-131