A dosimetric approach to patient-specific radioiodine treatment of Graves' disease with incorporation of treatment-induced changes in thyroid mass.
The traditional algorithms (Marinelli-Quimby and MIRD) used for the absorbed dose calculation in radionuclide therapy generally assume that the mass of the target organs does not change with time. In radioiodine therapy for Graves' disease this approximation may not be valid. In this paper a mathematical model of thyroid mass reduction during the clearance phase (30-35 days) after 131I administration to patients with Graves' disease is presented. A new algorithm for the absorbed dose calculation is derived, taking into account the reduction of the mass of the gland resulting from the 131I therapy. It is demonstrated that thyroid mass reduction has a considerable effect on the calculated radiation dose. Either the model of the thyroid mass reduction or the new equation for the absorbed dose calculation depend on a parameter k for each patient. This parameter can be calculated after the administration of a diagnostic amount of radioiodine activity (0.37-1.85 MBq). Thus, thyroid absorbed dose and thyroid mass reduction during the first month after therapy can be predicted before therapy administration. The absorbed dose values calculated by the new algorithm are compared to those calculated by the traditional Marinelli-Quimby and MIRD algorithms.
U.O. Fisica Sanitaria, Sezione di Fisica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria "Spedali Riuniti di S. Chiara," Pisa, Italy.
A Claudio
AC
Traino
Fabio
F
Di Martino
Mauro
M
Lazzeri
D000465:Algorithms; D001822:Body Burden; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009929:Organ Size / Q000528:radiation effects; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals