title: Criteria for patient release according to external dose rate and residual activity in patients treated with 131I-sodium iodide in Iran.
abstract: External dose rate (ED) and residual activity (RA) of patients treated with (131)I sodium iodide are two main factors, to consider before release of patients. In this study, six nuclear medicine centres out of total seven centres in Iran were selected and measurements have been done on 330 patients. ED of patients was measured by physicists of the centres for 6 months (May-November 2009) at a 1 m distance from the thyroid of each patient on the first, second and third days after administration by a calibrated survey meter. The maximum and minimum values of ED were 21 (SD = 18) and 11 (SD = 4) µSv h(-1), respectively. Furthermore, the maximum and minimum values of RA during release of patient were 720 and 250 MBq, respectively. According to the study, we recommend a release activity limit of 500 MBq (14 mCi) or a dose rate level of 20 µSv h(-1) at 1 m from the patient to be set instead of a release activity limit of 1100 MBq (30 mCi) as it is now for the country.
authors.affiliation: National Radiation Protection Department, Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, PO Box 14155-4494, Tehran, Iran. nahmadi_j@yahoo.com
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmadi Jeshvaghane
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paydar
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fasaei
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pakneyat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karamloo
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Deevband
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Khosravi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007492:Iran; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000592:standards*; D016499:Radioimmunotherapy; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes