Radiological Protection of Patient With Liver Metastasis of Struma Ovarii Submitted to Sodium Iodide Therapy (I-131)

Abstract

This paper presents as main objective to discuss Radiological Protection in Iodotherapy of patients with rare Hepatic metastasis of the Struma Ovarii Cancer. This was followed up for 28 days with periodic measurements of the external dose rate of the patient submitted to therapy with I-131, carried out two meters away. During the first therapeutic session, 14 days without close contact with children of their living and work were suggested. After the first 14 days of follow-up it was found by measurements and hepatic uptake of I-131, that restrictions should be maintained for another 14 days. The patient was accompanied during the whole period of social intercourse restriction. Measurements were compared with estimated dose rates of routine treatment of papillary or follicular-type thyroid cancer. The elimination of I-131 demonstrated by the dose rate measurements was shown to adjust significantly with the curve used, with correlation coefficient R = 0.9225. In contrast, the estimated curves for activities of 100, 150 and 200 mCi present better fit with R = 0.9999. The time needed for the dose rate to decrease in the level of release of the restrictions of living together was 4 times greater than the time for patients with thyroid cancer who do not live with children younger than 5 years or pregnant women; and 2 times greater than the time for patients who live with children or pregnant women. It can be concluded that different from a thyroid cancer, in this case, when treated with I-131, one can capture and retain an amount of activity that makes it impossible to release the restrictions of living together before at least 28 days. This work also suggests that the release of living restrictions depends on the biological elimination of I-131 in the patient's body. And the physiological and social conditions of each individual.