• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 1984

A lot of radioisotopes are applied to medical fields. It's very important to measure the activities on airborne radioiodine discharged in air from $Na^{131}I$ solutions and from patients treated with radioiodine. Also surface decontamination is another one important problem to be completly solved in the isotope laboratory where there is always the possibility of radiation contamination. The Authors measured the activities on airborne radioiodine with RI collector and scintillation counter. 1. The mean accumulative activity of airborne radioiodine discharged into air from $Na^{131}I$ solution was measured as $1.3{\times}10^{-3}/hr$ rate, and the maximum value was $1.8{\times}10^{-3}/hr$. 2. Radioactivity rate per hour of airborne iodine discharged into air from patients treated with $Na^{131}I$ was measured as $6.2{\times}10^{-5}/hr$ at 8 hour after administration of radioiodine and decreased into $2{\times}10^{-6}/hr$ after 24 hour. 3. Metalic surfaces such as stainless steel or aluminum are decontaminated 5 to 6 times more rapidly than wood and concrete surfaces. 4. Decontamination with wet wiping with detergent was 9 to 10 times more rapidly than dry wiping method, but dry wiping was useful for the first step to prevent spreading and flowing from liquid radioactive materials.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.295-303
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• 2023

Whole-body counters are widely used to assess internal contamination after a nuclear accident. However, it is difficult to determine radioiodine activity due to limitations in conventional calibration phantoms. Inhaled or ingested radioiodine is heterogeneously distributed in the human body, necessitating time-dependent biodistribution for the assessment of the internal contamination caused by the radioiodine intake. This study aims at calculating counting efficiencies considering the biodistribution of ¹³¹I in whole-body counting measurement. Monte Carlo simulations with computational human phantoms were performed to calculate the whole-body counting efficiency for a realistic radioiodine distribution after its intake. The biodistributions of ¹³¹I for different age groups were computed based on biokinetic models and applied to age- and gender-specific computational phantoms to estimate counting efficiency. After calculating the whole-body counting efficiencies, the efficiency correction factors were derived as the ratio of the counting efficiencies obtained by considering a heterogeneous biodistribution of ¹³¹I over time to those obtained using the BOMAB phantom assuming a homogeneous distribution. Based on the correction factors, the internal contamination caused by ¹³¹I can be assessed using whole-body counters. These correction factors can minimize the influence of the biodistribution of ¹³¹I in whole-body counting measurement and improve the accuracy of internal dose assessment.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 1985

The results of radioiodine treatment of 88 patients are reported. As in the case presented above, careful follow-up with continuous administration of adequate amount of thyroid hormone is very important. To check whether recurrent lesions have appeared or not, scintigrams with test dose of $I^{131}$, usually 1 to 10 mCi, are taken in general. However, it is important that there is a fact that administration of much larger dose (30 to 100 mCi) of $I^{131}$ may result in presenting additional lesions on the scintigrams. Recently, clinical usefulness of serum thyroglobulin determination has been mentioned in literatures from the standpoint of follow-up study of patients after radioiodine treatment. Although this technique seems to be valuable, we have to be aware of the possibility of fluctuation of data which may occur in connection with administration of thyroid hormone. Finally, I would like to say that radioiodine treatment is an effective method for thyroid cancer if patients are adequately selected. However, radioiodine treatment itself is sometimes not enough from the standpoint of radiation dose to the lesions. In such cases, we should not hesitate to consider combination therapy with other modalities. Therefore, in order to overcome this undesirable disease, cooperation between nuclear medicine specialists and other oncologists, such as radiotherapists, is necessary.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.84-86
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• 2018

Salivary and lacrimal gland dysfunction is relatively frequent after radioiodine therapy. In most cases this is a transient side effect, but in some patients it may persist for a long period or appear late. Radioiodine ($^{131}I$) therapy is often administered to patients following total thyroidectomy to treat well-differentiated follicular cell-derived thyroid cancer. In addition to the thyroid, $^{131}I$ accumulates in the salivary glands, giving rise to transient or permanent salivary gland damage. Salivary gland dysfunction following radioiodine therapy can be caused by radiation damage. But, it also may be associated with $Sj{\ddot{o}}gren$ syndrome (SS) developed after radioiodine therapy. It would be recommended that the evaluation for SS including anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La should be considered before and after radioiodine therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2018

Purpose With regard to the use of radioiodine in domestic medical institution, the case of exceeding the allowance of nuclear safety Act about radioactive concentration in drainage was found. Through understanding the cause of exceeding case and analyzing radioactive concentration in drainage, evaluating the relationship of the public waters in surroundings and usefulness. Materials and Methods From November 1, 2014 to April 30th, 2015, the research is aiming at domestic twenty hospitals for six months. By using a HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer(Canberra DSA-1000) and GENIE-2000 Analysis software for comparative analysis, measuring a radioactive concentration of radioiodine in drainage. Consequently, we confirm the excess of radioactive concentration of radioiodine in seven medical institutions. Results Conducting a survey of twenty hospitals and average radioactive concentration of radioiodine in drainage appears $42,100Bq/m^3$. The features of domestic hospitals where show a high radioactive concentration are a number of medical treatment patient when using radioactive iodine and the absence of private rest room. During I-131 whole body scan, the pretreatment procedure of urinating is considered emission of residual Iodine. In public waters, the cause of exceeding detect on radioactive concentration in drainage suppose a diagnostic radioactive iodine. Conclusion We confirm the importance of enhanced education, providing a safety control instructions and installing a private rest rooms for patients who injected a low capacity radioiodine. Also, constructing institutional and legal management system is considered about the Emission management standard in drainage.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.59-71
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• 1975

53 patients with hyperthyroidism have been analyzed with special reference to therapeutic response to radioactive iodine ($^{131}I$) treatment. Mean effective half-life, 24 hour uptake rate and radiation dose of $^{131}I$ in hyperthyroid patients included in this study were respectively. 1. Mean effective half-life of $^{131}I\;was\;4.7{\pm}1.5$ days in the tracer dose and $5.0{\pm}1.5$ days in the therapeutic dose. 2. Mean 24 hour uptake rate of $^{131}I\;was\;72.7{\pm}11.1%$ in the tracer dose and $73.4{\pm}12.3%$ in the theapeutic dose. 3. Mean radiation dose of $^{131}I\;was\;5,319{\pm}2,648$ RAD as predicted and $5,692{\pm}2,843$ RAD as actual. A single dose of radioactive iodine treatment was satisfactory in 34 patients (radioiodine sensitive) and multiple doses of radioactive iodine treatments were required in 19 patients (radioiodine resistant). A radioiodine resistant group of patients with hyperthyroidism was distinctively characteristic in the following aspects. 1. Mean thyroid weight calculated in the resistant group ($63.9{\pm}14.0gm$) was significantly (p<0.01) greater than that of the sensitive group ($46.6{\pm}13.3gm$). 2. Mean 24 hour uptake rate of the tracer dose in the resistant group ($67.3{\pm}10.7%$) was significantly (p<0.01) lower than that of the sensitive group ($75.7{\pm}10.5%$). 3. Mean 24 hour uptake rate of the therapeutic dose in the resistant group ($68.5{\pm}13.7%$) was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of the sensitive group ($76.1{\pm}10.9%$). 4. Mean predicted radiation dose, of $^{131}I$ in the resistant group ($3,684{\pm}1,745$ RAD) was significantly (p<0.01) lower than that of the sensitive group ($6,232{\pm}2,683$ RAD). 5. Mean actual radiation dose of $^{131}I$ in the resistant group ($4,100{\pm}1,691$ RAD) was significantly (p<0.01) lower than that of the sensitive group ($6,582{\pm}3,024$ RAD). 6. No significant difference was detected in terms of effective half-life of $^{131}I$ among the groups (p>0.05). 7. The average mean % difference of effective half-life, uptake rate and radiation dose measured following the tracer and therapeutic dose of $^{131}I$ were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Therefore effective half-life, uptake rate and radiation dose of the therapeutic dose of $^{131}I$ were readily predictable following the tracer dose of $^{131}I$. 8. It is concluded that the possibility of resistance to radioactive iodine treatment may be anticipated in patients with thyroid gland large in size and compromised $^{131}I$ uptake rate.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.206-211
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• 2000

Objectives: Any uptake of I-131 after total thyroidectomy means the remant thyroid tissue or distant metastasis of the thyroid cancer. However diffuse hepatic uptake of I-131 without abnormal uptake was showen in many cases on I-131 whole body scan. The aim of this study was to classify the liver uptake after I-131 scan and to evaluate the analysis of this finding. Materials and Methods: Between 1982 and 1998, 104 patients(l4 males, 90 females) with normal liver function underwent I-131 scan after total thyroidectomy. Prospectively we reviewed the films of the whole body scan and analysed the correlations between results of radioiodine uptake, pathologic diagnosis, prognostic factors, lymphatic metastasis, and thyroid function test. Result: Diffuse hepatic uptake was found in 44 of 104(42%) patients. 10 of 39(26%) patients on I-131 100mCi, and 34 of 63(54%) on I-131 150mCi showed hepatic uptake. 52 of 104(50%) patients was locally invasive thyroid cancer. The rate of the hepatic uptake was no significant differences with the thyroid hormone levels(T3, Free T4) and thyroglobulin between uptake group and non-uptake group. Conclusion: The rate of I-131 uptake was high in high-dose radioiodine treatment group. However, we can not find any correlation among the thyroid functions, the extent of metastasis or the extent of local invasion. We need further study to find out the causes of the hepatic uptake of I-131 after total thyroidectomy, besides liver metabolism of I-131 attached thyroid hormones.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 1971

7 laboratories located in Seoul were surveyed for the standardization of radioiodine thyroid uptake test in Korea. The result revealed that the currently utilized methods are almost standardized now, when the reference standard is IAEA recommendation method, 1962. Mean 24 hour uptake of thyroidal $^{131}I$ in Korean euthyroids is $31.6{\pm}8.80%$, and no significant interlaboratory differences are noticed. These results were caused probably by the late introduction of detector facilities into Korea after the appearance of publication of IAEA recommendations.