• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.129-136
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• 2009

During the maintenance period at Korean nuclear power plants, internal exposure of radiation workers occurred by the inhalation of $^{131}I$ released to the reactor building when primary system opened. The internal radioactivity of radiation workers contaminated by $^{131}I$ was measured using a whole body counter. Intake estimation and the calculation of committed effective dose were also conducted conforming to the guidance of internal dose assessments from publications of International Commission on Radiological Protection. Because the uptake and excretion of $^{131}I$ in a body occur quickly and $^{131}I$ is accumulated in the thyroid gland, the estimated intakes showed differences depending on the counting time after intake. In addition, since ICRP publications do not provide the intake retention fraction (IRF) for whole body of $^{131}I$, the IRF for thyroid was substitutionally used to calculate the intake and subsequently this caused more error in intake estimation. Thus, intake estimation and the calculation of committed effective dose were conducted by manual calculation. In this study, the IRF for whole body was also calculated newly and was verified. During this process, the estimated intake and committed effective dose were reviewed and compared using several computer codes for internal dosimetry.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.272-273
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• 2004

We experienced a case with meningioma showing false positive I-131 uptake. A 55-years old female patient underwent high dose (150 mCi) radioactive iodine therapy to ablate remnant tissue after total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer. in addition to intense tracer uptake in thyroid bed, there was mild but focal abnormal uptake in left frontal lobe of the brain on post-therapy I-131 whole body scan. Subsequent brain MR imaging showed single mass lesion in left frontal lobe and the mass was resected under the impression of brain metastasis of thyroid carcinoma. Pathologic report confirmed meningioma from the surgical specimen.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.4659-4663
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• 2023

The use of iodine S values derived using the International Commission Radiological Protection (ICRP) phantoms may introduce significant bias in internal dosimetry for Koreans due to anatomical variability. In the current study, we produced an extensive dataset of Korean S values for selected five iodine radioisotopes (I-125, I-129, I131, I-133, and I-134) for use in radiation protection. To calculate S values, we implemented Monte Carlo simulations using the Mesh-type Reference Korean Phantoms (MRKPs), developed in a high-quality/fidelity mesh format. Noticeable differences were observed in S value comparisons between the Korean and ICRP reference phantoms with ratios (Korean/ICRP) widely ranging from 0.16 to 6.2. The majority of S value ratios were lower than the unity in Korean phantoms (interquartile range = 0.47-1.28; mean = 0.96; median = 0.69). The S values provided in the current study will be extensively utilized in iodine internal dosimetry for Koreans.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.95-102
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• 2022

This retrospective study aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in the success rate of removal of residual thyroid tissue in patients with the same cutoff serum thyroglobulin (Tg) value-measured 2 weeks after thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW)-for different radioactive iodine (RAI) activities. We identified 132 patients with papillary thyroid cancer who were treated with total thyroidectomy and RAI therapy to evaluate the efficacy of three radioactivities of I-131: 1,110, 3,700, and 5,550 MBq. Serum Tg testing was performed 1 week before RAI treatment and 2 weeks after THW (pre-Tg); the cutoff pre-Tg level was below 10 ng/mL. Stimulated Tg levels were measured on the day of I-131 administration (off-Tg). After 6 months of treatment, we compared the groups for complete ablation, defined as no uptake on a diagnostic I-131 scan, stimulated Tg level of <1.0 ng/mL, and Tg antibody level of <100 ng/mL. Ninety-five patients (72.0%) achieved complete ablation, with 57.1% (8/14), 78.2% (68/87), and 61.3% (19/31) in the 1,110 MBq, 3,700 MBq, and 5,550 MBq groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in the complete ablation rates between the three groups. In the multivariate analysis, the off-Tg level was a significant predictor of complete ablation. RAI therapy with low radioactivity (1,110 MBq) seemed sufficient for ablation in patients with papillary thyroid cancer with a pre-Tg level below 10 ng/mL. The off-Tg level is a promising and useful predictor of complete ablation after initial RAI therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.346-355
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• 1997

To evaluate the utility of I-131, T1-201 scintigraphy, and serum thyroglobulin(Tg) in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer, we compared retrospectively the data from 33 patients who underwent total or subtotal thyroidectomy. I-131 scintigraphy was performed after optimal endogenous TSH stimulation ($TSH>50{\mu}U/ml$). Total 41 cases of I-131 and T1-201 scintigraphy pairs were examined. Concomitant serum thyroglobulin levels were measured for 41 pairs of scan. Tg-off levels(that measured after discontinuation of the thyroid hormone) higher than 40ng/m1 were considered positive, and Tg-on levels(that measured during the thyroid hormone replacement) higher than 5ng/ml were considered positive. The concordance rates between I-131 therapeutic scintigraphy and T1-201 scintigraphy was 48% in the 38 case of total scan pairs(59% in the 17 cases of postoperative preablation group, and 38% in the 21 cases of postoperative postablation group). Of 17 studies before the I-131 ablation therapy(preablation group), 7 showed positive I-131 therapeutic scintigraphy despite of negative T1-201 scintigraphy. Among patients with negative I-131 therapeutic scintigraphy, no patients had abnormal T1-201 uptake. However, of 21 studies which were done after radioiodine therapy(postablation group) 6 had abnormal uptake on T1-201 scintigraphy which were not seen on I-131 therapeutic scintigraphy, and Tg-off levels also elevated in this 4 of 6 cases. As a result, I-131 therapeutic scintigraphy showed highest positive rate at postoperative preablation follow-up study in differentiated thyroid cancer patients. T1-201 scintigraphy may be useful in postablation studies, and the use of the combined modalities(T1-201 and Tg levels) provides a higher diagnostic yield.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.1519-1523
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• 2021

Radioactive iodine (¹³¹I) released from nuclear power plants has been a critical environmental concern for workers. The effective trapping of radioactive iodine isotopes from the off-gas stream generated from nuclear facilities is an important issue in radioactive waste treatment systems evaluation. Numerous studies on retaining methyl iodide (CH₃I¹³¹) by impregnated activated carbons under the high content of moisture have been extensively studied so far. But there have been no good results on how to remove methyl iodide at high humid conditions up to now. A new challenge is to introduce other promising impregnating chemical agents that are able to uptake enough radioactive methyl iodide under high humid conditions. In order to develop a good removal efficiency to control radioiodine gas generated from a high humid process, activated carbons (ACs) impregnated with triethylene diamine (TEDA) and qinuclidine (QUID) were prepared. In addition, the removal efficiencies of the activated carbons (ACs) under humid conditions up to 95% RH were evaluated by applying the standard method specified in ASTM-D3808. Quinuclidine impregnated activated carbon showed a much higher decontamination factor above 1,000, which is enough to meet the regulation index for the iodine filters in nuclear power plants (NPPs).

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 1988

In case of occuring the atomic energy accidents the proper medical treatments should be necessary. As the aim of the basic data for protective actions, the present studies were carried out to evaluate the decontamination of radioiodine by the administration of the antithyroid drugs (KI, NaI) and isotonic saline. Some recommended methods of decorporating radioiodine were investigated using 450, NIH-GP mice, each injected intraperitoneally with $1{\mu}Ci$ of $NaI^{131}$ as the internal contamination and treated with 2mg/0.2ml-saline of NaI and 2.6mg/0.2ml-saline of KI as the antithyroid drugs. Accordingly, effects of antithyroid drugs for internal contamination were: 1. Administration of NaI and KI caused to rapidly excrete internal radioiodine as the antithyroid drugs and decrease in whole body retention was reduced than in the saline group. 2. After internal contamination NaI and KI were to be administered for radioprotective effects as quickly as possible. 3. Decrease in body-retention made temporary shifts with enough fluids (water), however, as far as radioprotective effects is concerned, saline was not more significant than in the other group (NaI and KI). 4. Regarding to thyroid protective effects NaI, KI and saline were significant in effectively order.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.48-55
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• 2009

Purpose: As Korean nuclear law doesn't have any clear guideline about the dose and the external dose rate(uSv/h) requiring hospitalization in radioactive iodine treated patients, the patients are discharged when they meet the guideline of IAEA Basic Safety Standards(BSS). We measured external dose rate(${\mu}Sv/h$) of inpatient underwent 3700MBq (100 mCi) $^{131}I$ radioiodine treatment and considering external dose rate(${\mu}Sv/h$), residual activity(mCi) and excretion rate(%) we found the time for RA to be lowered from 3700MBq (100 mCi) to 1110 MBq (30 mCi) to give reference to set a guideline for discharge. Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients underwent thyroidectomy and scheduled for radioiodine treatment, who received 3700MBq (100 mCi) of $^{131}I$ orally and had no renal disease were examined. After 1, 2, 4, 8, and 20, 24, 40 hours iodine uptake and before/after the urination, the external dose rate(${\mu}Sv/h$) measured using FH40G-L(Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., MA) at a distance and a height of 1 m for 20 sec on the average. Results and Conclusions: At 20 hours, the external dose rate was decreased to $49{\pm}13\;{\mu}Sv$/h, namely, 78% of administrated radioactivity was excreted and 814 MBq (30 mCi) was residual, and it met the accepted limit for discharge of (IAEA, BSS) under 1110 MBq (30 mCi) (1 m at 66 uSv/h).

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.57-61
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• 2014

Purpose Iodine (I-131) is one of the most widely used radioactive isotopes for therapeutic in the field of nuclear medicine. Therapeutic I-131 capsule is made out of lead to shield high energy radiation. Accurate dosimetry is necessarily required to perform safe and effective work for relative workers. The Monte Carlo method is known as a method to predict the absorbed dose distribution most accurately in radiation therapy and many researchers constantly attempt to apply this method to the dose calculation of radiotherapy recently. This paper aims to calculate distance dependent and activity dependent therapeutic I-131 capsule using GEANT4. Materials and Methods Therapeutic capsules was implemented on the basis of the design drawings. The simulated dose was determined by generating of gamma rays of energy to more than 364 keV. The simulated dose from the capsule at the distance of 10 cm and 100 cm was measured and calculated in the model of water phantom. The simulated dose were separately calculated for each position of each detector. Results According to the domestic regulation on radiation safety, the dose at 10 cm and 100 cm away from the surface of therapeutic I-131 capsule should not exceed 2.0 mSv/h and 0.02 mSv/h, respectively. The simulated doses turned out to be less than the limit, satisfying the domestic regulation. Conclusion These simulation results may serve as useful data in the prediction of hands dose absorbed by I-131 capsule handling. GEANT4 is considered that it will be effectively used in order to check the radiation dose.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2008

Purpose: Whole body imaging with radioiodine can detect functioning metastases. Non-physiologic I-131 uptake detected on images usually is interpreted as suggesting functioning thyroid metastases. However, extra-thyroidal I-131 accumulation does not always imply thyroid cancer metastases and has been reported in many circumstances. In order to avoid unnecessary therapeutic interventions it is important to distinguish false-positive sites of I-131 localization. We study here to remove false-positive sites around esophagus region on I-131 whole body imaging in patients who were administrated thyroidectomy. Materials and Methods: From April to August in 2007, we had the patients who had visited our department after they received thyroidectomy due to thyroid cancer. They were given I-131, and performed radioiodine body scan after 41 to 50 hours. Patients were whole-body-scanned for the speed of 8 cm per minute. After that, we took anterior and posterior static images around the patients' neck measured by 300 thousand counts per image. We selected 44 patients who had hot spots around neck region, we divided the patients into two groups. One group was given 0.5 L of water and the other group was given 0.5 L of water with 1 g of Vitamin C dissolved. The patients were asked to drink the fluid for one minute in sitting position and after that, we measured 300 kilo counts per image again. We compared prior anterior, posterior static images with anterior, posterior images after the patients had water or water that Vitamin C resolved. Results: In using water, both observer 1 and 2 interpreted 6 patients were washed out. In the water with Vitamin C resolved, observer 1 and 2 interpreted 9 and 8 patients were washed out. Observer 1 and 2 interpreted 6 and 5 patients had 'indeterminate' when they used water. Both observer 1 and 2 interpreted 6 patients had 'indeterminate' when they used water with Vitamin C resolved. When they used water, observer 1 interpreted 10 patients had 'unchanged' and observer 2 interpreted 11 patients had 'unchanged'. Differently, when they used water with vitamin C resolved, observer1 had 8 patients having 'unchanged'and observer 2 had 9. Conclusion: As a result, by making patients drink 0.5 liter of water which has vitamin C resolved helped getting rid of false-positive sites in esophagus. Therefore, based on this study, we believe that drinking water with vitamin C dissolved is very in terms of reducing false-positive hot spot around the esophagus for the iodine-131 whole body scan.