ICRP Publication 140: Radiological Protection in Therapy with Radiopharmaceuticals | JoVE Visualize

Area of Science:

Nuclear Medicine
Radiation Oncology
Medical Physics

Background:

Radiopharmaceuticals are increasingly vital in cancer therapy, utilizing advanced radionuclides, compounds, and delivery methods.
Optimizing radiation therapy, including radiopharmaceutical treatments, hinges on balancing tumor control with normal tissue complication probabilities.
Accurate quantification of radiation doses to both target tumors and surrounding healthy tissues is crucial for effective treatment planning and patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview of radiopharmaceutical therapeutic procedures.
To present a framework for calculating radiation doses in various treatment scenarios.
To discuss biokinetic parameters, dosimetry, uncertainty analyses, and radiological protection measures.

Main Methods:

Determining biokinetic parameters through direct measurements of radiopharmaceutical uptake, retention, and clearance.
Performing pre-therapy absorbed dose calculations using trace-labeled diagnostic administrations.
Conducting retrospective dosimetry based on activity administered during therapeutic administrations.
Utilizing uncertainty analyses to assess the reliability and quality of absorbed dose calculations.

Main Results:

Absorbed dose in radiopharmaceutical therapy is influenced by radiopharmaceutical biokinetics, radionuclide half-life, and administration techniques.
Pre-therapy and retrospective dosimetry methods, alongside uncertainty analyses, aid in treatment planning and evaluation.
Effective dose provides a general risk measure for stochastic effects but is not predictive for individual cancer incidence or deterministic effects.

Conclusions:

Accurate absorbed dose calculation is essential for optimizing radiopharmaceutical therapy outcomes.
Robust radiological protection measures, including facility design, equipment, procedures, and training, are critical for minimizing staff and public exposure.
Patient release decisions post-therapy must consider potential radiation doses to the public and caregivers, necessitating clear guidance.