Abstract
The use of effective shielding materials against radiation is important among medical staff in nuclear medicine. Hence, the current study investigated the shielding effects of a commercially available tungsten apron using gamma ray measuring instruments. Further, the occupational radiation exposure of nurses during 131I-meta-iodo-benzyl-guanidine (131I-MIBG) therapy for children with high-risk neuroblastoma was evaluated. Attachable tungsten shields in commercial tungsten aprons were set on a surface-ray source with 131I, which emit gamma rays. The mean shielding rate value was 0.1 ± 0.006 for 131I. The shielding effects of tungsten and lead aprons were evaluated using a scintillation detector. The shielding effect rates of lead and tungsten aprons against 131I was 6.3% ± 0.3% and 42.1% ± 0.2% at 50 cm; 6.1% ± 0.5% and 43.3% ± 0.3% at 1 m; and 6.4% ± 0.9% and 42.6% ± 0.6% at 2 m, respectively. Next, we assessed the occupational radiation exposure during 131I-MIBG therapy (administration dose: 666 MBq/kg, median age: 4 years). The total occupational radiation exposure dose per patient care per 131I-MIBG therapy session among nurses was 0.12 ± 0.07 mSv. The average daily radiation exposure dose per patient care among nurses was 0.03 ± 0.03 mSv. Tungsten aprons had efficient shielding effects against gamma rays and would be beneficial to reduce radiation exposures per patient care per 131I-MIBG therapy session.
Highlights
The use of effective shielding materials against radiation is important among medical staff in nuclear medicine
Paediatric patients must remain in a radiation isolation room alone after the administration of 131I-MIBG until external radiation exposures have been reduced to an acceptable level as per national regulations
The mean counts per pixel of 131I were 71 ± 8 in the non-shielded area, 53 ± 7 in the area shielded with 1 tungsten shield (TS), 46 ± 6 in that shielded with 2 TSs and 38 ± 6 in that shielded with 4 TSs
Summary
The shielding effects of lead and tungsten aprons 131I were 6.3% ± 0.3% and 42.1% ± 0.2% at 50 cm, 6.1% ± 0.5% and 43.3% ± 0.3% at 1 m and 6.4% ± 0.9% and 42.6% ± 0.6% at 2 m, respectively (Fig. 2). Patients aged ≤ 12 years who presented with neuroblastoma received seven sessions of 131I-MIBG therapy (666 MBq/kg, median body weight: 17 kg, range 10–38 kg) They were four women and three men (median age at 131I-MIBG therapy: 4 years, range 1–12 years). The average number of nurses who worked per day during the patients’ stay in the isolation room to reduce radiation exposure was 3 ± 1 (range 2–7). The self-care scores were positively correlated with daily radiation exposure (horizontal axis: score, vertical axis: μSv, y = 3.7x − 26; squared correlation coefficient = 0.73, p < 0.05, Fig. 3) among nurses
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