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Impact of radiocontaminants in commercially available iodine-123: dosimetric evaluation

Journal Article · · J. Nucl. Med.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5205919

Iodine-123 (/sup 123/I) is considered by some to be the radionuclide of choice for thyroid scintigraphy because of its ideal physical and biological characteristics and low radiation absorbed dose to the thyroid. However, commercially available /sup 123/I (p,2n) and (p,5n) have radiocontaminants. The MIRD formalism was used to estimate the absorbed dose to the thyroid for various age groups receiving recommended administered activities at the time of delivery and at two half-lives assuming radiocontamination levels specified by the suppliers. The calculations demonstrate that an /sup 131/I uptake with a technetium-99m scan at the time of delivery results in less absorbed dose to the thyroid than an /sup 123/I (p,2n) scan and uptake. At two half-lives the absorbed dose triples and becomes equivalent to the dose from an /sup 131/I scan. The absorbed dose from an /sup 123/I (p,5n) scan at two half-lives is higher than that of an /sup 123/I (p,2n) scan at the time of delivery. Iodine-123 capsules should not be decayed down in order to obtain a recommended pediatric administered activity. There appears to be no dosimetric advantage of commercially available /sup 123/I for thyroid scintigraphy for adults or most children.

Research Organization:
Georgetown Univ. Hospital, Washington, DC
OSTI ID:
5205919
Journal Information:
J. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Nucl. Med.; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN JNMEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English