The exposure rate constant for a silver wire 125I seed.

Abstract

The physical characteristics of the newer silver wire 125I seed were measured with a scintillation spectrometer to compare them with those of the original gold sphere 125I seed. The exposure rate constant was determined by converting the count rate from a scintillation spectrometer into the photon-fluence rate incident upon the detector, then calculating the exposure rate from the photon-fluence rate. The exposure rate constant measured perpendicular to the long axis of the seed is 1.361 R cm2/mCi h (1.192 cGy cm2/mCi h) +/- 3.7%, a value that compares favorably with the theoretical exposure rate constant of 1.354 R cm2/mCi h (1.186 cGy cm2/mCi h) calculated from the 125I emissions data. A value of 1.309 R cm2/mCi h was previously reported for the gold sphere 125I seed using the same technique. The angular intensity distribution and anisotropy factor of the silver wire 125I seed are shown to be very similar to those of the gold sphere 125I seed, leading to the conclusion that the clinical application of the two types of 125I seeds need not change.