Using Explore WB Scanner system dynamic monitor the whole-body radiation activity of thyroid papillary carcinoma patients after¹³¹I treatment

Objectives: At present, the radiological health protection standards and the guidelines for nuclear medicine in China have clearly stated that patients received iodine-131 (¹³¹I) treatment should be discharged from the hospital with the residual activity below 400MBq. Explore WB Scanner was a new technique to measure the residual activity of ¹³¹I in the body accurately, conveniently, and safely. In our study, we first used this system to dynamic monitor the whole-body radiation residual activity of patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma when treated by¹³¹I and to evaluate whether patients reach the discharge standards.

Methods: 55 patients (15 males, 40 females, the average age were 43.64±10.83) with postoperative thyroid papillary carcinoma treated by ¹³¹I in our hospital were chosen in our study. According to the ¹³¹Itreatment activity, patients were divided into 4 groups. There were 9 patients in group 1 with 75mCi treatment activity, there were 32 patients in group 2 with 100mCi treatment activity, 8 patients were in group 3 with 150mCi treatment activity, and 6 patients were in group 4 with 200mCi treatment activity. Using Explore WB Scanner measured the whole-body radiation activity of all patients at 2 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours after given¹³¹I, then save the image and record the residual activity. Analysis of variance was used to compare the residual activity between 4 groups. Results The residual activity of 4 groups at 2 hours were respectively 71.70±6.77, 93.92±5.28,134.72±16.15, 152.04±39.21 (unit: mCi), the differences between 4 groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The residual activity of 4 groups at 24 hours were respectively 16.87±4.00, 21.66±6.33, 36.78±11.18, 45.74±15.26(unit: mCi), except group 1 and group 2, the differences between 4 groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The residual activity of 4 groups at 48 hours were respectively 15.54±2.44,5.08±2.55,9.98±5.28,10.96±5.58 (unit: mCi), except group 1 and group 2, group 3 and group 4, the differences between 4 groups were statistically significant (P<0.05).At 48 hours, the proportion of patients who reached the discharge standard in 4 groups were respectively 100.00% (9/9), 96.88% (31/32), 62.50% (5/8) and 50.00% (3/6). Conclusions 87.27% (48/55) of the patients who had reached the discharge standard at 48 hours after given¹³¹I. The using of Explore WB Scanner can more accurately monitor the residual activity in patients, and more objectively evaluate whether patients reach the discharge standards, contribute to shorten hospital stay, and save the medical resources.

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