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. 2020 Oct 1;10(5):651-658.
doi: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.1118. eCollection 2020 Oct.

Evaluations for Determination of Optimum Shields in Nuclear Medicine

Parvaresh R  1 , Jalili M  2 , Haghparast A  3 , Khoshgard K  3 , Eivazi M T  3 , Ghorbani M  4
Affiliations

Evaluations for Determination of Optimum Shields in Nuclear Medicine

Parvaresh R et al. J Biomed Phys Eng. .

Abstract

Background: 131I source is widely used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancers. 131I emits both beta and gamma-rays. Radiation protection is considered for gamma rays emitted by 131I. It seems no special shield against 131I source to be designed.

Objective: This research aims to evaluate determination of optimum shields in nuclear medicine against 99Tcm and 131I sources by dosimetric method. Additionally, Monte Carlo simulation was used to find the optimum thickness of lead for protection against 131I source.

Material and methods: This is an experimental research in the field of radiation protection. A calibrated model of GraetzX5C Plus dosimeter was used to measure exposure rates passing through the shields. The efficiency of the shields was evaluated against 99Tcm and 131I. Furthermore, Monte Carlo simulation was used to find the optimum thickness of lead for protection against 131I source.

Results: The findings of the dosimetric method show that the minimum and maximum efficiencies obtained by the lead apron with lead equivalent thickness of 0.25 mm and the syringe holder shields with thickness of 0.5 mm lead were 50.86% and 99.50%, respectively. The results of the simulations show that the minimum and maximum efficiencies obtained by lead thicknesses of 1 mm and 43 mm were 19.36% and 99.79%, respectively.

Conclusion: The optimum shields against 99Tcm are the syringe holder shield, the tungsten syringe shield, and the lead partition, respectively. Furthermore, based on simulations, the thicknesses of 11-28 mm of lead with efficiencies between 90.6% to 99% are suggested as the optimum thicknesses to protect against 131I source.

Keywords: Dosimetry; Efficiency; Iodine-131; Monte Carlo Simulation; Nuclear Medicine; Shield; 99Tcm.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The set-up used in the dosimetric method; without shield (a); and with shield (b). This figure is schematic and not based on a real scale.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The set-up used in the simulation method. This figure is schematic and not based on a real scale.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The efficiency obtained for the nuclear medicine shields against 99Tcm source by the dosimetric method.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The efficiency obtained for the lead partition against 99Tcm and 131I sources by the dosimetric method.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The efficiency obtained for the simulated lead shield with various thicknesses against the 131I source by the simulation method.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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