Use of a voxel phantom as a source and a second voxel phantom as a target to calculate effective doses in individuals exposed to patients treated with 131I.
In this study, the Visual Monte Carlo radiation transport code and the female voxel phantom FAX were used to calculate organ and effective doses delivered by target-source irradiation geometries associated with radioiodine therapy treatments.


METHODS
Specific situations were considered: when a patient was accompanied during hospitalization, when a patient was accompanied on return to his or her residence, and when a patient received daily care at home.


RESULTS
This simulation study showed that, in the 3 situations considered, the total effective dose to an individual in normal contact with the patient was less than 0.85 mSv for up to 11.1 GBq (300 mCi) of administered activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that for these patients receiving radioiodine therapy, radiation protection procedures after hospital discharge are unnecessary.
de Carvalho
Albérico B
AB
Departamento de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil. ablohem@gmail.com
Hunt
John
J
Silva
Ademir X
AX
Garcia
Fermin
F
D017028:Caregivers; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes