Estimated Internal and External Radiation Exposure of Caregivers of Patients With Pediatric Neuroblastoma Undergoing 131I Metaiodobenzylguanidine Therapy

Abstract

Caregivers receive both external and internal radiation exposure while providing in-hospital care to children receiving I MIBG therapy for neuroblastoma. However, the internal radiation exposure was negligible compared with the external radiation exposure.

Feasibility and effectiveness of treatment strategy of tandem high‐dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation in combination with 131I‐MIBG therapy for high‐risk neuroblastoma

“…Patients who completed the first HDCT/ASCT were evaluated for disease status including an 123 I‐MIBG scan and received HD‐ 131 I‐MIBG treatment 2 weeks prior to the second HDCT as previously described . HD 131 I‐MIBG therapy was planned to be administered for patients who had MIBG‐avid tumors at diagnosis.…”

“…The first HDCT regimen consisted of melphalan 60 mg/m 2 /d for Patients who completed the first HDCT/ASCT were evaluated for disease status including an 123 I-MIBG scan and received HD-131 I-MIBG treatment 2 weeks prior to the second HDCT as previously described. 13 HD 131 I-MIBG therapy was planned to be administered for patients who had MIBG-avid tumors at diagnosis. 131 I-MIBG was synthesized in Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (Daejeon, Korea).…”

Nurses’ Experiences Caring for Children With Neuroblastoma Receiving 131I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine Therapy: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

“…Although radiation exposure to the caregiver has been shown to be low and within safe ranges (Gains et al, 2015;Han et al, 2017), several nurses in this study reported reservations when caring for children receiving 131 I-MIBG. The concern was shared by female nurses, more often of child-bearing age.…”

“…131 I-MIBG therapy is dosed per/kg, so children who are older receive higher doses of radiation, which in turn, emits higher amounts of radiation to the caregivers. However, nurses and family caregivers overall are exposed to minimal doses of radiation when using appropriate precautions and maintaining minimal time in the room, distance from the patient, and shielding (Gains et al, 2015; Han et al, 2017; Willegaignon et al, 2018).…”