Radiation Exposure of Medical Staff due to 131I Therapy of Hyperthyroidism and Thyroid Cancer*

Andor Kerekes1, Sándor Szakács1, Teréz Séra2, István Sinkovics3, Sándor Pellet1, and László Pávics2

1 Frédéric Joliot-Curie National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, József Fodor National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
2 Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
3 National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary

Corresponding author: Dr. Andor Kerekes
    National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene
    P.O.B. 101
    H-1775 Budapest, Hungary
    Telephone: (36-1) 229-1931
    Fax number: (36-1) 229-1931
    E-mail: kerekesa@okk.antsz.hu

CEJOEM 2004, Vol.10. No.3.: 246–251


* Edited version of the paper delivered at the 33th Annual Meeting
of the European Society for Radiation Biology, Budapest, August 25–28, 2004


Key words:
131I radionuclide, external exposure, internal radiation burden, hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer


Abstract:
131I therapy of hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer displays an increasing tendency in Hungary. Because of the high radionuclide activities administered and the high number of treatments per year, we investigated the radiation exposure of the medical staff. The external doses were measured by thermoluminescent and electronic personal dosimeters, while the estimation of internal doses was based on the measurement of radioiodine air activity concentration. The annual effective external doses received by the medical staff were below 1 mSv both at the diagnostic investigation and therapy of hyperthyroidism. The annual external doses to the hands and fingers of the staff did not exceed 6 mSv. The internal radiation burden of the staff was expected to remain below an annual dose of 0.005 mSv. The external effective annual dose to the medical staff was 0.3 mSv both for diagnostic investigation and therapy of thyroid cancer. The annual external dose to the hands and fingers was estimated as 20 mSv per diagnostic and therapeutic application, too. The annual internal radiation burden of the staff was estimated as 0.03 and 1.1 mSv for the diagnostic and therapeutic practice, respectively. The doses to the medical staff due to the therapeutic use of 131I radionuclide remained well below the Hungarian annual dose limits.


Received: 4 January 2005
Accepted: 24 January 2005

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