• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.153-156
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• 2011

This study, which is proceeded in the department of nuclear medicine, aims at preventing unnecessary radiation exposure to the patients and the people near the patients by understanding and presenting the realities about the isolating period for the high dose radioiodine patients after total thyroidectomy in the 7 general hospitals in metropolitan area. Theoretically, the physical half-life of the high dose radioiodine is 8 days. Radioiodine lower than 100 mCi usually is eliminated all in 2 days 1 night considering the biological half-life and the amount of excreting radioiodine The hospitalization standard of the patients treated with high-dose radioiodine therapy has been established according to the fact above. Investigation of the data and questionnaire from the hospital have proven that some hospitals didn't even measure the acceptable dose because of the faith in the vague data. Besides, the some of those inevitably let the readmitting patients exceeding the acceptable dose be in the general ward, not in the isolation ward, because the number of the isolation rooms is relatively smaller than the patients. Thus, we want to contribute that patients understand the realities and the hospitals consider the relevant problem actively so that the problem will be settled by this journal.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.259-279
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• 2009

Radioiodine ablation therapy has been considered to be a standard treatment for patient with differentiated thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy. Patients may need to be hospitalized to reduce radiation exposure of other people and relatives from radioactive patients receiving radioiodine therapy. Medical staffs, nursing staffs and technologists sometimes hesitate to contact patients in radioiodine therapy ward. The purpose of this paper is to introduce radiation dosimetry, estimate radiation dose from patients and emphasize the safety of radiation exposure from patients treated with high dose radioiodine in therapy ward. The major component of radiation dose from patient is external exposure. However external radiation dose from these patients treated with typical therapeutic dose of 4 to 8 GBq have a very low risk of cancer induction compared with other various risks occurring in daily life. The typical annual radiation dose without shielding received by patient is estimated to be 5 to 10 mSv, which is comparable with 100 to 200 times effective dose received by chest PA examination. Therefore, when we should keep in mind the general principle of radiation protection, the risks of radiation exposure from patients are low and the medical personnel are considered to be safe from radiation exposure.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.393-397
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• 2001

Surgery, radioiodine therapy, and thyroxine treatment represent established therapeutic measures of proven efficacy for the treatment of well-differentiated thyroid cancer. However, in some cases, dedifferentiation is noted and it makes tumors refractory to conventional treatment. Recently, retinoic acid redifferentiation therapy was evaluated in several in vitro and in vivo studios. We report a patient with papillary carcinoma in whom metastatic lesions became radioiodine negative on high-dose therapy. Redifferentiation therapy with retinoic acid induced radioiodine uptake in some of metastatic tissues. Side effects such as xerostomia and cheilosis were mild. We recommend retinoic acid redifferentiation therapy as an option for the treatment of thyroid cancer with negative radioiodine uptake after high-dose radioiodine therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2010

Purpose: According to increment of thyroid cancer recently, patients of high dose radioiodine therapy were accumulated. Taking into consideration the acceptance capability in the current facility, this study is to calculate the maximum value of high dose radioiodine therapy in patients for treatment. Materials and Methods: The amount and radioactivity of waste water discharged from high dose radioiodine therapy in patients admitted at present hospital as well as the radiation density of the air released into the atmosphere from the high dose radioiodine therapy ward were measured. When the calculated waste water's radiation and its density in the released air satisfies the standard (management standard for discharge into water supply 30 Bq/L, management standard for release into air 3 $Bq/m^3$) set by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the maximum value of treatable high dose radioiodine therapy in patients was calculated. Results: When we calculated in a conservative view, the average density of radiation of waste water discharged from treating high dose radioiodine therapy one patient was 8 MBq/L and after 117 days of diminution in the water-purifier tank, it was 29.5 Bq/L. Also, the average density of radiation of waste water discharged from treating high dose radioiodine therapy two patients was 16 MBq/L and after 70 days of diminution in the water-purifier tank, it was 29.7 Bq/L. Under the same conditions, the density of radiation released into air through RI Ventilation Filter from the radioiodine therapy ward was 0.38 $Bq/m^3$. Conclusion: The maximum value of high dose radioiodine therapy in patients that can be treated within the acceptance capability was calculated and applied to the current facility, and if double rooms are managed by improving the ward structure, it would be possible to reduce the accumulated treatment waiting period for radioiodine therapy in patients.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.71-74
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• 2018

Adverse events such as hemoptysis and gastrointestinal hemorrhage during tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment are relatively rare, but the severity of the bleeding can be higher than other common adverse events. It is necessary to educate patients about its possibility so that they can be found early. In this case report of radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer patient, hemoptysis and gastrointestinal bleeding has occurred following lenvatinib administration. Drug interruption and dose modification and dose interruption were required in addition to management for bleeding itself. It is necessary to confirm the high risk of bleeding before the administration of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and to appropriately control the follow-up interval and drug dosage accordingly.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 1989

The pain, swelling of salivary glands and dry mouth are not infrequent complication of the high dose radioiodine treatment in the patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. The purpose of this study was, by the dynamic salivary scintigraphy, to observe the change of the salivary function after the high dose $(150\sim200mci)$ radioiodine treatment. From May 1987 to April 1988, the dynamic salivary scintigraphy with 5mci of $^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ and gamma camera was performed before and 7 days after the radiolodine treatment in 7 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Just after the dynamic scintigraphy, the stimulation test with vitamin C solution of pH3.0 and poststirnulation scintigraphy were done, and the radioactivity uptake index, excretion fraction and salivary clearance after the stimulation were calculated for each gland. There was positive correlation between the radioactivity uptake index and excretion fraction after the stimulation. The salivary clearance after the stimulation was $18.96{\pm}8.95ml/min$ in the pretreatment state, and $14.37{\pm}7.7ml/min$ after the radioioine treatment. After the radioiodine treatment, the radioactivity uptake index, excretion fraction and salivary clearance after the stimulation were significantly reduced in the parotid glands, but only the excretion fraction was reduced in the submandibular glands. The more the pretreatment salivary clearance after the stimulation was, the % change after the treatment was smaller. Further studies on the relation between the radiation dose in the salivary glands and the change of their function, and the long-term observation for the recovery of function are expected.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.269-276
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• 2010

This study attempts to propose ways to optimize and improve the period of hospitalization for the radioiodine treatment by calculating the dose rate of patients treated with high-dose radioiodine by distance and time slot. As a result, 24 hours after the patient was treated with 100 mCi high-dose iodine, the dose rate was attenuated to $1,035{\mu}Sv/hr$ at the navel, to $109{\mu}Sv/hr$ at 50 cm, and to $33{\mu}Sv/hr$ at 100 cm. 24 hours after the patient was treated with 150 mCi high-dose iodine, the dose rate was attenuated to $637{\mu}Sv/hr$ at the navel, to $100{\mu}Sv/hr$ at 50 cm, and to $40{\mu}Sv/hr$ at 100 cm. 24 hours after the patient was treated with 180 mCi high-dose iodine, the dose rate was attenuated to $1,251{\mu}Sv/hr$ at the navel, $140{\mu}Sv/hr$ at 50 cm, and to $56{\mu}Sv/hr$ at 100 cm. In light of the current criterion for discharge recommended by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission being $70.4{\mu}Sv/hr$, the present study indicates earlier discharge is feasible by applying a new scheme. This suggests that the proposed scheme in this study will help to solve the problem of shortage of treatment beds with the increasing trend of patients with thyroid cancer taken into consideration.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.341-354
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• 2003

Radioactive iodine therapy using I-131 for hyperthyroidism has been used for more than 50 years, and generally considered safe and devoid of major side effects. Appropriate patient selection criteria and clinical judgement concerning patient preparation should be employed for its optimal use. It has not been possible to resolve the trade-off between efficient definite cure of hyperthyroidism and the high incidence of post-therapy hypothyroidism. The dose of the I-131 needed to maintain euthyroid state remains an area of uncertainity and debate. Early side effects are uncommon and readily managable. Other than the need for long-term monitoring and, in most cases, lifelong thyroid hormone treatment for late adverse consequences of this treatment remains only conjectural. We have reviewed general principles and recent advances in radioiodine treatment for Graves' hyperthyroidism, specially regarding to several controversies.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.435-442
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• 2007

The number of thyroid diseases treated with radioiodine(I-131) is increasing steadily. The sharp increase in patients who require high dose radioiodine therapy greatly increased the need for new therapy rooms. Accordingly, interest in radiation exposure is rising as well, and is a major psychological stress factor for the patient and those who come in close contact with the patient. This study aimed to minimize the radiation exposure on discharge. Based on various previous reports, the decision for discharge should be individualized depending on many factors related to the patient's living or working environment. Educating patients repeatedly on the importance of sufficient oral hydration, while the adequate amount was relative to the patient's individual condition, greatly lowered the detected radiation measurement within the same admission period. In some cases, the period of admission could be abbreviated.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.120-127
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• 2003

Purpose: To evaluate diagnostic sensitivity of nuclear imaging in the detection of residual thyroid tissue and metastatic lesion, we have compared neck scintigrams with Tc-99m pertechnetate (Tc-99m scan) and high dose I-131 iodide (I-131 scan) in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Subjects and Methods: One hundred thirty-five thyroidectomized patients for differentiated thyroid cancer were enrolled in this study. Twenty-three had a previous history of radioiodine therapy. Planar and pin-hole images of anterior neck with Tc-99m were acquired at 20 minutes after injection, followed by I-131 scan three days after high-dose radioiodine therapy within 7 days interval. Patients were asked to discontinue thyroid hormone replacement more than 4 weeks. Results: All subjects were in hypothyroid state. Seventy out of 135 patients (51.9%) showed concordant findings between Tc-99m and I-131 scans. I-131 scan showed higher number of uptake foci in all of 65 patients showing discordant finding. Tc-99m scan showed no thyroid bed uptake in 34 patients, whereas 23 of them (67.6%) showed bed uptake in I-131 scan. Tc-99m scan did not show any uptake in thyroid bed in 11 of 112 patients without previous history of radioiodine therapy, but 9 of them showed bed uptake in I-131 scan. Tc-99m scan showed no bed uptake in all of the 23 patients with previous history of radioiodine therapy, in contrast 14 of them (60.9%) showed bed uptake in I-131 scan. Conclusion: These results suggest that Tc-99m scan has poor detectability for residual thyroid tissue or metastatic lesion in thyroidectomized differentiated thyroid cancer patients, compared to high dose I-131 therapy scan. Tc-99m scan could not detect any remnant tissue or metastatic lesion in patients with previous history of radioiodine treatment, especially.