Postdischarge radiation exposure from I-131-treated thyroid cancer patients: implications for dental practice
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Emine Tuna Akdoğan1, Enes Malik Pınarbaşı1, Sinem Coşkun2
1Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Istanbul Kent University, Istanbul Türkiye.
Objectives:
This study evaluated, for the first time, the radiation exposure of dentists examining thyroid cancer patients following radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy.
Study Design:
External dose-rate measurements were performed at distances of 5-100 cm in 93 differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients between Days 1 and 7 after discharge. Patients were classified according to administered RAI activity as Group I (1110-2775 MBq, n = 31) and Group II (3700-7400 MBq, n = 62). Measurements were obtained in the anterior oblique position with patients seated upright to simulate dental examination conditions.
Results:
In Group I, the cumulative radiation dose potentially received by a dentist was 461.75 µSv on Day 1 after discharge, decreasing to 112 µSv and 92 µSv on Days 2 and 3, respectively. In Group II, cumulative doses on Days 1-4 after discharge were 1148 µSv, 447 µSv, 73 µSv, and 37 µSv, respectively.
Conclusions:
The findings indicate that patients receiving <3700 MBq RAI may safely undergo dental examination approximately 24-26 hours after discharge with appropriate radiation protection precautions, whereas dental treatment in patients receiving ≥3700 MBq RAI should preferably be postponed for at least 48 hours to maintain occupational exposure below the 1 mSv public dose limit.
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