title: Thyroid cancer patients treated with 131I: radiation dose to relatives after discharge from the hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroid cancer patients treated with radioiodine are potential source of radiation exposure for other individuals. Thus, we evaluated the radiation dose received by family members of thyroid cancer patients treated with (131)I after hospital discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six family members of 56 thyroid cancer patients were included in the study. Thyroid cancer patients were given 3.7 GBq of (131)I and remained in a radiation protection ward for 3 days. Radiation protection recommendations were given to patients and relatives. Life conditions were recorded and radiation doses were monitored using a personal dosimeter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At discharge, the mean residual activity was 188 MBq. The mean radiation dose delivered to relatives during the 7 days after discharge was low (51.5 μSv) and was similar with either recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) (59 μSv) or withdrawal (50 μSv) (p = 0.37).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With our current practice, radiation doses to relatives are low and well below international recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Cancerology Gustave Roussy, University of Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France. herve.remy@igr.fr
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rémy
authors.forename: Jérémy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coulot
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Borget
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ricard
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guilabert
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lavielle
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Camps
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baudin
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lumbroso
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leboulleux
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlumberger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010356:Patient Isolation; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011874:Radiometry; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes