title: Indigenously developed close delivery system for oral iodine-131 therapy: Nominal cost but phenomenal protection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Administration of radiopharmaceuticals through intravenous and oral routes is the major source of radiation exposure to nuclear medicine (NM) technologists. Adopting new strategies to minimize radiation exposure is an important step toward safe practice in nuclear pharmacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have indigenously developed a relatively close delivery system for oral administration of radioiodine-131 ((131)I) to minimize radiation exposure to the technologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The efficacy of this indigenously developed close system was assessed upon 23 patients who were given (131)I therapies for benign (13 patients) and malignant thyroid disorders (10 patients). There was 64 ± 6% (P < 0.05) reduction in exposure rate using indigenously developed delivery system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cost involved in developing this system was very nominal, but efficacy in terms of radiation safety and confidence of our technologists were phenomenal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Ziauddin Medical University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nosheen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fatima
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Ziauddin Medical University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Maseeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uz Zaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Section of Nuclear Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Imran A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Ziauddin Medical University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Imtiaz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ul Haq
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Ziauddin Medical University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javed
keywords: Indigenous system; nuclear medicine technologist; radiation exposure; radioioidine-131 therapy