Minimizing Radiation Exposure from Patients Treated with Iodine-131 for Hyperthyroidism Using a Lead Collar: A Simple and Effective Approach

Abstract

Objective: To construct a lead collar useful for shielding the electromagnetic radiation from the thyroid of patients treated with radioiodine ¹³¹I for hyperthyroidism, thereby reducing the radiation emitted from these patients. Materials and Methods: A specially designed cervical lead collar was used to shield radiation exposure from ‘hot thyroids’ of 20 patients treated with iodine-131 for hyperthyroidism. The collar was made of lead strips stacked together around a plastic neck support fastened around the patient’s neck. Measurements of the radiation exposure rate were obtained at increasing distances from the patients (50, 100, 200 cm), with and without the lead collar, at various times after ¹³¹I treatment. Results: Radiation exposure measurements over 3 weeks showed relatively high exposure rates in the first week after treatment. The radiation exposure from the patients wearing the lead collar was half that found in the same patients not wearing the collar. Conclusion: The use of the lead collar significantly reduced the radiation exposure of patients’ surroundings. It was particularly useful in patients who could not abide strictly to the standard restrictive protocols after treatment with ¹³¹I.

Low dose radioiodine therapy: A review of dosimetry and evaluation of potential shielding materials for neck collars

“…It must be noted that, similar to previously reported studies (Grigsby et al, 2000;Loutfi et al, 2003), testing the collar with real patients and exposure to caregivers…”

An evaluation of deviation from the international atomic energy agency-international commission on radiological protection proposed equation for calculation of radiation dose rate emanating from the patients with differentiated thyroid cancer undergoing radioiodine (I-131) therapy

“…[45678910] In addition, international protocols that are mainly based on the amount of radioiodine residual activity and the radiation dose rate at a distance of 1 m from the standing patient, determine when treated patients with radioiodine could be discharged from the hospital and return to their daily activity. [1112131415]…”

“…A variety of studies has been conducted to ensure radiation exposure to family members of treated patients with 131 I, associated caregivers, hospital staffs and the general public who may be in close contact of these patients are well restricted to the minimum acceptable level. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] In addition, international protocols that are mainly based on the amount of radioiodine residual activity and the radiation dose rate at a distance of 1 m from the standing patient, determine when treated patients with radioiodine could be discharged from the hospital and return to their daily activity. [11][12][13][14][15] While such regulations are not fixed and may vary between countries, but they all are based on the classic principles of radiation protection.…”