Radiation protection of persons living close to patients with radioactive implants.
BACKGROUND
Permanent interstitial brachytherapy is--in certain cases--a very successful therapeutic option, but application of radioactive implants always results in only gradually diminishing radiation exposure of persons in the patient's immediate surroundings.


METHODS
Using patients with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with iodine-125 ((125)I) or palladium-103 ((103)Pd) as an example, it is shown how a patient, if necessary or wished by him, can, by wearing commercially available X-ray protection shorts, reduce radiation exposure of family members in such a way that at a distance r from the patient a given dose per year is not exceeded.


RESULTS
The computational procedures necessary for the determination of the individual periods of wearing X-ray protection clothing are provided in the form of formulae and graphics. All considerations and calculations can also be applied to other radiotherapeutic interventions involving the use of (125)I, (103)Pd or other gamma-sources.


CONCLUSIONS
If necessary, a patient with permanent radioactive implants can reduce radiation exposure of family members by wearing special X-ray protection clothing for a limited period of time. This kind of radiation protection is very efficient and considerably simpler to accomplish than a reduction of exposure time or an increase of the distance between the patient and family members.
Kaulich
Theodor W
TW
Medical Physics, University Hospital of Radiooncology, Tübingen, Germany. theodor.kaulich@med.uni-tuebingen.de.|Medizinische Physik, Universitätsklinik für Radioonkologie, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. theodor.kaulich@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
Bamberg
Michael
M
University Hospital of Radiooncology, Tübingen, Germany.
D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017028:Caregivers; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010165:Palladium; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes; D010165:Palladium