title: Thyroid remnant ablation using 1,110 MBq of I-131 after total thyroidectomy: regulatory considerations on release of patients after unsealed radioiodine therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to measure the radiation exposure level of caregivers following outpatient NaI (I-131) 1,110 MBq therapy for remnant thyroid ablation after total thyroidectomy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, and to evaluate the influence of activities of daily living on radiation exposure level, with the goal of proposing an optimum method of I-131 therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 37 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, who had undergone total thyroidectomy and received outpatient based remnant thyroid ablation using NaI (I-131) 1,110 MBq, who were satisfying the following requirements: (1) patients who have no evidence of distant metastases, (2) whose living environments were appropriate for outpatient I-131 (1,110 MBq) therapy, and (3) patients who gave written informed consent.                         The dose rate at a distance of 1 m from the body surface of the patient at the moment of release was measured using survey meters of the GM type or ionization chamber type. The dose level for the caregiver was measured with a personal dosimeter in all cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dose rate at a distance of 1 m from the patient's body surface 1 h after I-131 administration was in the range of 29-115 μSv/h (mean 63.8 μSv/h). The 7-day cumulative effective dose of caregivers was 0.11 ± 0.08 mSv, on an average, in 34 dosimeters. In 31 of 34 dosimeters, cumulative effective dose of caregivers was below 0.2 mSv. Dose levels exceeding 0.2 mSv were recorded in 3 cases (0.21, 0.35 and 0.43 mSv in one case each). These results suggest that the exposure level of family members (caregiver and others) was minimal and is lower than the radiation levels affecting human environments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Outpatient-based remnant thyroid ablation with I-131 (1,110 MBq) performed after total thyroidectomy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer is safe if applied in accordance with the appropriate supervision and guidance by experts with certain qualifications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusakabe
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Seigo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinuya
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Togawa
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.forename: Mana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Mayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanaya
authors.forename: Kazuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanaya
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoneyama
authors.forename: Hideharu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikebuchi
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yanagida
authors.forename: Keigo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Segawa
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D017028:Caregivers; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes