title: Measurement of the Dose to the Family Members Taking Care of Thyroid Cancer Patients Undergoing I-131 Therapy in Nuclear Medicine Using TLD-100.
abstract: The family members or friends of the patients undergoing treatment using radioiodine in nuclear medicine are inevitably exposed to ionization radiation. The purpose of this study is measurement of the dose received by the people taking care of the thyroid cancer patients treated by 131I. For this purpose, the dose amounts received by 29 people accompanying patients were measured using thermoluminescence dosimeters. A badge containing three TLD-100 chips was given to each caregiver. The people were asked to wear the badges for 24 days, when they are taking care of the patients. Finally the dose to each person was estimated by averaging the readings of the three TLDs. The measured dose amounts to the people were compared with the recommendations of international commitions. According to the results obtained in this study, the amounts of dose received by the caregivers were between 0.03 and 0.38 mSv, with the average of 0.12 mSv. By comparison of the results of this study with the recommendations of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), it can be observed that the dose to family members of the patients is less than the dose constraints. However, it is recommended that the caregivers be aware of the radiation protection principles in order to reduce their dose.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zehtabian
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dehghan
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danaei Ghazanfarkhani
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Research Center, Namazi Teaching Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haghighatafshar
authors.affiliation: Radiation Research Center, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sina
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009683:Nuclear Medicine; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; C000614965:Iodine-131