Determination of Radiation Exposure of Individuals in the Population by Patients after Radioiodine Therapy – Comparison of two Measurement Systems

Abstract

According to the requirements of radiation protection legislation, patients may only be discharged from the nuclear medicine therapy ward if it is ensured that the cumulative radiation exposure of the population is below 1 mSv per year. In the present study, dose measurements of patients after radioiodine therapy (RIT) and their relatives are to be used to prove that the radiation exposure resulting from the medical application is low and that the legal framework conditions are complied with. Furthermore, the results allow conclusions to be drawn about the measurement accuracy of the dosimeters used.

Methods: In 147 patients after RIT and their relatives, the dosage was measured over 14 days with different measuring systems. Finger ring dosimeters (FRD) were worn during the whole day, furthermore the dose was determined by non-official OSL and TLD dosimeters during the sleep phase.

Results: 88 data sets were used for the final analysis. With the FRD, dose values between 0.1–50 mSv were determined for the patients. As expected, the finger ring dose of the relatives was significantly lower, averaging 0.75 mSv compared to 10 mSv for the patient. For the TLD and OSL used in the sleep phase, the measured values were in the same range. The reproducibility of the measurement results was significantly better for the OSL than for the TLD.

Conclusion: Despite method-related measurement uncertainties, it can be concluded that the exposure dose of patients’ relatives after radioiodine therapy is low and that the legal requirements are met. Moreover, the now official OSL dosimeters represent a more accurate and for the chosen measurement task better suited measurement system than the TLD.

Key Points: 

• The exposure dose of patients’ relatives after radioiodine therapy is low.

• The requirements of radiation protection legislation after discharge from the nuclear medicine therapy ward are complied with

• OSL dosimeters are a accurate and for the measurement task suited system

Citation Format

• Hartmann H, Andreeff M, Claußnitzer J et al. Determination of Radiation Exposure of Individuals in the Population by Patients after Radioiodine Therapy – Comparison of two Measurement Systems. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2023; 195: 605 – 612

Key words

radioiodine therapy - radiation protection - OSL dosimeter - TLD dosimeter - radiation exposure

Publication History

Received: 06 February 2022

Accepted: 05 January 2023

Article published online:
09 May 2023

• References

• 1 Hellwig D, Marienhagen J, Menhart K. et al. Nuclear Medicine in Germany. Updated key data and trends from official statistics. Nuklearmedizin 2017; 56: 55-68
• 2 Lorenz R, Buck A, Reiners C. In-patient nuclear medicine therapy in Germany from 2010 to 2012. Analysis of structured quality reports. Nuklearmedizin 2015; 54: 61-68
• 3 Ehrhardt Jr. JD, Gulec S. A Review of the History of Radioactive Iodine Theranostics: The Origin of Nuclear Ontology. Molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy 2020; 29: 88-97
• 4 Lorenz R, Dietlein M, Reiners C. [Nuclear medical inpatient treatment in Germany – analysis of structured quality reports 2004-2008]. Nuklearmedizin 2010; 49: 49-57
• 5 [Anonym]. Strahlenschutz in der Medizin – Richtlinie zur Strahlenschutzverordnung, veröffentlicht am 30. November 2011 (GMBl 44-47/2011Seite 867). 2011
• 6 [Anonym]. Gesetz zur Neuordnung des Rechts zum Schutz vor der schädlichen Wirkung ionisierender Strahlung (StrlSchGEG) G. v. 27.06.2017 BGBl. I S. 1966 (Nr. 42); zuletzt geändert durch Artikel 7 G. v. 20.05.2021 BGBl. I S. 1194. 2017
• 7 Strahlenschutzkommission. Strahlenschutzgrundsätze für die Radioiodtherapie, Empfehlung der Strahlenschutzkommission vom 5./6. Dezember 1996, Bundesanzeiger Nr.68 vom 11.04.1997.
• 8 ICRP. The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP Publication 103. Ann. ICRP 2007; 37: 2-4
• 9 Olko P, Currivan L, van Dijk JW. et al. Thermoluminescent detectors applied in individual monitoring of radiation workers in Europe -- a review based on the EURADOS questionnaire. Radiation protection dosimetry 2006; 120: 298-302
• 10 Kry SF, Alvarez P, Cygler JE. et al. AAPM TG 191: Clinical use of luminescent dosimeters: TLDs and OSLDs. Medical physics 2020; 47: e19-e51
• 11 Al-Senan RM, Hatab MR. Characteristics of an OSLD in the diagnostic energy range. Medical physics 2011; 38: 4396-4405
• 12 Sommer M, Henniger J. Investigation of a BeO Based Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosemeter. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2006; 119: 394-397
• 13 Andreeff M, Claussnitzer J, Oehme L. et al. Measurement of ocular lens ionizing radiation exposure after radioiodine therapy. Nuklearmedizin 2012; 51: 79-83
• 14 Wunderlich G, Freudenberg R, Hartmann H. et al. Radiation Exposition of preparations of radiopharmaceuticals in routinely use, measured with optical-stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimeters. Nuklearmedizin 2019; 58: 470-473
• 15 [Anonym]. Technisches Datenblatt für den TLD-Disk-Fingerring Photonen (LPS-TLD-TD 05); Landesanstalt für Personendosimetrie und Strahlenschutzausbildung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Ausgabe 2004.
• 16 Stefanoyiannis AP, Ioannidou SP, Round WH. et al. Radiation exposure to caregivers from patients undergoing common radionuclide therapies: a review. Radiation protection dosimetry 2015; 167: 542-551
• 17 Matheoud R, Reschini E, Canzi C. et al. Potenzial third-party radiation exposure from outpatients treated with 131I for hyperthyroidism. Medical physics 2004; 31: 3194-3200
• 18 Kadhim AA, Sheikhzadeh P, Farzanefar S. et al. Radiation Dose Assessment to Family Members Taking Care of Non-Cancerous Thyroid Patients Treated with I-131 Therapy in Nuclear Medicine Department. Radiation protection dosimetry 2020; 190: 208-216
• 19 Dewji S, Bellamy M, Hertel N. et al. Estimated dose rates to members of the public from external exposure to patients with 131I thyroid treatment. Medical physics 2015; 42: 1851-1857
• 20 Mattar E, Salih MA, Alsafi K. et al. Radiation Protection in the Release of Patients Receiving 131i Treatment. Radiation protection dosimetry 2019; 187: 499-508
• 21 Abuqbeitah M, Demir M, Yeyin N. et al. Thyroid uptake test with portable device (COTI) after (131)I tracer administration: proof of concept. Radiation and environmental biophysics 2020; 59: 553-558