title: The evaluation of the external dose measurement of the patients treated with radioiodine therapy.
abstract: The aim of the study is to compare the results of the external exposure and the range of the dose spread by the patients, hospitalized in two different groups of 3-4 d receiving radioiodine therapy because of having hyperthyroidism (HT) and thyroid cancer (TC). A total of 1989 patients were evaluated retrospectively. Of the total 1517 patients had TC and 472 had HT. External exposure value was taken at hospital discharge and the distance for external measurement was 1 m at the abdominal level. External exposure values of 99.7 % patients were <30 µSv h(-1) and of 0.3 %, >30 µSv h(-1). The results between patient groups with TC and HT at third and fourth days, and the dissimilarity of measurement results within third and fourth days in total patients, without discriminating the day difference, are statistically meaningful. Although 3-d isolation period for 30 µSv h(-1) limit is generally enough, it can be insufficient for some patients. Besides hospitalisation, the radiation safety training must be emphasised by establishing good communication with patients in order to protect their relatives and other people against radiation risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Kagithane, Istanbul 34400, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mulazimoglu
authors.forename: Nurcan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Edis
authors.forename: Muge Oner
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Tamam
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uyanik
authors.forename: Tevfik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozpacaci
mesh_terms: D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes