2nd NaCMeLS: 4-6 Nov. 2008, Kota Bharu, Kelantan

Radiation Exposure & Contamination Rate in Patient Receiving Radioiodine (I-131) Treatment

Abdullah Waidi I, Nur Hamizah MZ, Chen SC, Ahmad Z

(School of Health Sciences, USM, Kelantan)

     To determine the radiation exposure & contamination rate of patients 

      receiving radioiodine (I-131) treatment for thyroid cancer in HUSM.

     The patients were given a dose  of   80 – 150 mCi. The radiation exposure 

     was then measured at the chest and pelvic region of patients at the 

     difference distances (0.5, 1.0 & 1.5 m) and taken after 1 and 24 hours of 

     I-131 administration. The contamination rate was determined at patient’s skin 

     at the same distance as the exposure rate measurement.

     The radiation exposure of different dose ranging from 6–50 mR/h  for

      1-hour and 2–30 mR/h for 24-hour measurements. The contamination rate 

      was 0–48 cpm after 4 hours and 0–14 cpm after 10 hours. After 24 hours, 

      this value was 0–34 cpm.

     This finding (radiation exposure) complied with the Inverse Square Law 

      (exposure rate decreases by increasing the square of distance). The 

      contamination level in other hand depends on patient’s attitude towards 

      personal hygiene.