Use of a voxel phantom as a source and a second voxel phantom as a target to calculate effective doses in individuals exposed to patients treated with 131I.

UNLABELLED In this study, the Visual Monte Carlo radiation transport code and the female voxel phantom FAX were used to calculate organ and effective doses delivered by target-source irradiation geometries associated with radioiodine therapy treatments. METHODS Specific situations were considered: when a patient was accompanied during hospitalization, when a patient was accompanied on return to his or her residence, and when a patient received daily care at home. RESULTS This simulation study showed that, in the 3 situations considered, the total effective dose to an individual in normal contact with the patient was less than 0.85 mSv for up to 11.1 GBq (300 mCi) of administered activity. CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that for these patients receiving radioiodine therapy, radiation protection procedures after hospital discharge are unnecessary.