• 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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7441-7447
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• 2015

Objective: This study evaluated the safety and objective response of combining $^{131}I$-labeled-metuximab (Licartin) with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: In a multicenter open-label clinical trial, 341 enrolled patients with stage III/IV HCC according to TNM criteria were nonrandomly assigned to a trial group (n=167) and a control group (n=174), undergoing TACE following hepatic intra-arterial injection of licartin or TACE alone from July 2007 to July 2009. Radiopharmaceutical distribution was evaluated. The primary endpoint was overall survival; secondary endpoints included time-to-progression (TTP), toxicity and adverse events (AEs). Results: The radiobiological distribution demonstrated better localization of licartin in liver tumors than other tissues (P<0.01). The organ absorbed doses to liver and red marrow were $3.19{\pm}1.01Gy$ and $0.55{\pm}0.22Gy$, respectively. The 1-year survival rate was significantly higher [79.47% vs. 65.59%, hazard ratio (HR), 0.598, P=0.041] and TTP significantly improved ($6.82{\pm}1.28$ vs. $4.7{\pm}1.14months$, P=0.037) compared with the control group. Patients at stage III achieved more benefit of one year survival than stage IV in the trial group (86.9% vs. 53.8%, P<0.001). There were significant different toxicities in leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia and increased total bilirubin level [P<0.001, P=0.013, P<0.01, relative risk (RR) 1.63, 1.33, 1.43], but no differences in severe AEs of upper GI hemorrhage and severe liver dysfunction between the groups (5.39% vs. 2.3%, P=0.136). Conclusions: Owing to excellent tumor-targeting, promised efficacy and favourable toxicity profile, the novel combination therapy of licartin and TACE could be applied in patients with unresectable HCC.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 1969

To clarify the hematologic effects of the radioiodine ($^{131}I$) in therapeutic doses ($5{\sim}10$ mCi) on the various thyroid patients, authors studied the peripheral blood pictures of 396 goitrous patients before and after radioiodine ($^{131}I$) administrations in the Isotope Clinic of Seoul National University Hospital. Among these 396 cases of goiters, we gave 5 to 10 mCi of radioiodine ($^{131}I$) with single or fractionated administrations. The blood pictures of peripheral blood were repeated after 3 months in 40 cases of 65 cases who had been treated with $^{131}I$. The blood pictures of non-treated thyroid patients were compared with that of normal Korean values to clarify any difference between normal and goiter. The blood pictures of hyperthyroid patients treated with $^{131}I$ therapy were compared with the blood pictures of non-treated thyroid patients. The results were as following: 1) The incidence according to type: Toxic diffuse goiter: 35.4% Nontoxic nodular goiter: 29.7% Euthyroid: 13.8% Nontoxic diffuse goiter: 12.6% Hypothyroidism: 4.3% Thyroiditis($\bar{s}$ subacute form): 1.8% Toxic nodular goiter: 1.4% Malignancy: 1.0% 2) Age incidence: The range of distribution was 11 to 71 years. The peak incidence was found in the 4th decade of life. $80.6{\sim}82.6%$ of those 396 cases were found among the 3rd, 4th and the 5th decades of life. 3) Sex incidence: Sex ratio of male:female was 1:7.8. 4) The most outstanding findings in peripheral blood before treatment were decreased erythrocyte count and hemoglobin value in all types of thyroid diseases, especially in. the cases of hypothyroidism and thyroiditis. Hook worm-infested patients showed no significant difference in erythrocytes and hemoglobin values from those of other hook worm free patients. 5) Total leukocytes count was within normal range. Differential count of W.B.C. showed increased percentile of lymphocyte in diffuse toxic goiter and thyroiditis. 6) 39 cases of diffuse goiter treated with $^{131}I$ toxic showed amelioration in the anemia and restoration to normal range of lymphocyte count in association with increased percentile of neutrophiles 3 months after administration, except a case of toxic nodular goiter. One can observe anemia in slight degree, and increased lymphocytes count in hypothyroidism. Therapeutic dose of radioiodine ($^{131}I$) does not result any residual effect on the hematopoietic function. Radioiodine ($^{131}I$) therapy resulted in improvement of thyroid function in association of amelioration of pevious abnormal blood pictures. 7) Authors did not observe any myxedema resulted from radioiodine therapy during the 3 months period in this study.

• 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.

• 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.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
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 1969

742 cases of thyroid diseases treated at Radio-isotope Clinic, Seoul National University Hospital since October 1965 through July 1968 were analyzed. The patients were classified according to eye findings, as to Infiltrative, Non-infiltrative and No ophthalmopathy. Correlations between ophthalmological findings and symptoms, BMR values and $^{131}I$ uptake rate as well as response to medical treatment were carefully reviewed. Results obtained were as follows: 1. Among goitrous patients 44.5% with infiltrative ophthalmopathy, 24.1% with non-infiltrative ophthalmopathy totaling 68.6% of patients with one or more eye findings were found. Exophthalmos (44%) and visual disturbances (44%) comprised the highest incidence among eye signs. Most frequent eye symptoms were lid swelling (17.1%). 2. Female patients were predominant(91%). 3. Of cases with hyperthyroidism, after treatment with antithyroid drugs and radio-iodine therapy, general symptoms were improved in over 74%, whereas ophthalmopathy was not changed and in some cases the eye signs were aggravated. This tendency was more apparent in infiltrative ophthalmopathy. 4. Significant correlations between exophthalmos, BMR values and $^{131}I$ uptake rate were found. Among the patients of same degree of exophthalmos, BMR values and $^{131}I$ uptake rate showed the highest in non-infiltrative ophthalmopathy, moderate in infiltrative ophthalmopathy and the lowest in no ophthalmopathy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 1996

Radioiodine($^{131}I$) has been used for the treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism since the late 1940's and is now generally regarded as the treatment of choice for Graves' hyperthyroidism who does not remit following a course of antithyroid drugs. But for the dose given, several different protocols have been described by different centers, each attempting to reduce the incidence of long-term hypothyroidism while maintaining an acceptable rate control of Graves' hyperthyroidism. Our goals were to evaluate effective half-life and predict absorbed dose in Graves' hyperthyroidism patients, therefore, to calculate and readminister radioiodine activity needed to achieve aimed radiation dose. Our data showed that the mean effective $^{131}I$ half-life for Graves' disease is 5.3 days(S.D=0.88) and mean biologic half-life is 21 days, range 9.5-67.2 days. The mean admininistered activity and the mean values of absorbed doses were 532 MBq(S.D.=254), 112 Gy (S.D.=50.9), respectively. The mean activity needed to achieve aimed radiation dose were 51MBq and marked differences of $^{131}I$ thyroidal uptake between tracer and therapy ocurred in our study. We are sure that the dose calculation method that uses 5 days thyroidal $^{131}I$ uptake measurements after tracer and therapy dose, provides sufficient data about the effective half-life and absorbed dose of $^{131}I$ in the thyroid and predict the effectiveness of $^{131}I$ treatment in Graves' hyperthyroidism.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.29-39
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• 1970

A summary of the clinical data of the $^{131}I$-thyroid function tests and the therapeutic results of $^{131}I$ among the 2,658 patients of various thyroid diseases treated over the past 10 years from May 1960 to Oct. 1969 at the Radioisotope Clinic and Laboratory, SNUH were presented and dscussed. 1. The patients examined consisted of: 929 cases (34.9%) of diffuse toxic goiter, 762 cases (28.7%) of diffuse nontoxic goiter, 699 cases (26.3%) of nodular nontoxic goiter, 58 cases (2.2%) of nodular toxic goiter and 210. cases (7.9%) of hypothyroidism. 2. There were 300 (11.4%) male and 2358 (88.6%) female, showing a ratio of 1:8. 3. The majority of patients (79.1%) were in the 3rd-5th decades of their lives. 4. The normal ranges, diagonstic values of $^{131}I$ uptake test, 48 hrs, serum activity, BMR and main subjective symptoms of various thyroid diseases were discussed. 5. In the 579 patients among 867 cases with hyperthyroidism treated with $^{131}I$, 47.8% were confirmed to be cured completely after single therapeutic doses. 6. The complications of $^{131}I$ therapy were discussed and myxedema had developed in 6.75% of our patients. 7. The results of $^{131}I$ thyroid function tests were analysed among the 160 cases of thyroid diseases which were confirmed the diagnosis with histopathological measures.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1859-1862
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• 2014

Recently, the main therapy of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is surgical, but by which way there is a poor prognosis with a mean survival of only 5 years. In some cases, some researchers found that it is the medullary thyroid cancer stem cells (MTCSCs) that cause metastasis and recurrence. This study aimed to eradicate MTCSCs through administration of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Here we demonstrate that MTCSCs possess stemlike properties in serum-free medium. The ABCG2, OCT4 and sodium iodide symporter (NIS) were changed by ATRA. Additionally, we found that ATRA can increase the expression of NIS in vivo. All the data suggested that ATRA could increase the iodine uptake of MTCSCs through NIS.