Radioprotection Using Iodine-131 for Thyroid Cancer and Hyperthyroidism: A Review

Abstract

Radioiodine (iodine-131, or I-131) therapy has been used successfully for thyroid therapy for more than 50 years. Protocols for treatment with I-131 differ from country to country and even from hospital to hospital in the same country. Daily area surveys of hallways, stairwells, and rooms adjacent to isolation rooms must be conducted and documented to ensure that doses to any individuals in unrestricted areas do not exceed 20 mcSv (2 mrem) in one hour. Nursing and housekeeping staffs must realize that once therapy has begun, no items are to be removed from the room unless first cleared by nuclear medicine or radiation safety personnel. With proper education and instructions for patients and their family members, radiation exposure to healthcare professionals and the general public can be minimized. The objectives of this article are to review (a) practical radiation safety concerns associated with hospitalized patients receiving I-131 therapy, (b) preventive measures to minimize potential exposure and contamination problems, and (c) radiation safety precautions and preventive measures to minimize radiation exposure to family members and helpers living with patients receiving outpatient I-131 therapy.

Treatment for Malignant Struma Ovarii in the Eyes of Thyroid Surgeons

“… 1 , 2 , 4 I 131 therapy is one of 3 major strategies for the treatment of thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism, successfully used for >50 years. 7 Adults with differentiated thyroid cancer are treated with high doses of radioiodine and have an excellent long-term prognosis. However, there is limited information on the effects of this treatment for MSO.…”

“…But it seems that it benefited our patients and others. 1 , 2 , 4 Regardless of the uncertainty of curative effect of I 131 therapy on MSO due to the protracted natural history of the disease, this treatment certainly has a lot of benefits: 7 iodine scanning can effectively inspect metastasis and recurrence, and then kill cancer cells; it is easily tolerated by patients; except for occasional hypothyroidism, it almost has no side effect; it is relatively inexpensive. After all, whether I 131 should be considered in the first-line treatment for MSO after operation depends on years of more data collection and the choice of individual treating program.…”

Radiation Safety in the Management of Patients Undergoing Radioactive Iodine Ablation Therapy

“…Linen and trash hampers are placed inside the room, as are vital designated sign equipment. All surfaces the patient may frequently touch, such as the toilet, faucet handles, phone, and bedrails, should be wrapped in plastic wrap (Al-Shakhrah, 2008). Materials used in the care of the patient are left in the room for the entire hospital stay.…”

Nanoparticle formulations for therapeutic delivery, pathogen imaging and theranostic applications in bacterial infections

“…Conceptually, a theranostic combines diagnostic and therapeutic utility as a single formulation/modality (Figure 1 ) . There are several well-established, effective, and safe theranostic anti-cancer therapies, such as lutetium octreotate 43 for somatostatin-positive tumour cells and Iodine-131 therapy 44 for thyrotoxicosis and thyroid cancer. However, given the complexity required to develop such formulations, proposed theranostic nanoparticle anti-infection strategies are currently in incipient stages.…”