“How long do you have to be in isolation after radioactive iodine?”
I will have radioactive iodine therapy. How long do you have to be in isolation after radioactive iodine?
1 Answer
Treated patients should be given patient-specific advice on the necessary precautions to reduce radiation exposure. The treated patient should remain ≥1.8 m (6 feet) away from family members, caregivers, and the general public as much as possible for approximately 24 hours after treatment. Adult caregivers may be closer than 1 m (3 feet) for brief intervals. In general, the treated patient should be instructed to avoid public transportation and extended time in public places and should not stay overnight in a hotel or motel within 24 hours of 131-I treatment.
To protect household members from radiation exposure, the treated patient should avoid the following during the restricted period:
●Sleeping in the same bed with another adult, pregnant woman, infant, or child
●Sexual contact
●Kissing
●Sharing cups, utensils, towels, razors, toothbrushes
The duration of the restricted period depends upon the dose received amount of thyroid tissue and the rate of clearance. As an example, treated patients should avoid sleeping in the same bed with an adult for four days and for up to three weeks with a pregnant partner, infant, or child after treatment with 200 mCi (7400 MBq). The restricted period is calculated individually for each treated patient.
There are long-term data to assess the protective benefits of these precautions. In a study of 30 patients with thyroid cancer who received 75 to 150 mCi (2.775 to 5.550 GBq) of 131-I as outpatients, exposure of family members was minimal when precautions were followed. Patients were instructed to sleep alone, drink fluids liberally, and avoid prolonged close personal contact with family members for two days after treatment. Surveillance of family members and pets demonstrated that doses to household members were well below the limit (5 mSv) mandated by NRC regulations.
To protect household members from radiation exposure, the treated patient should avoid the following during the restricted period:
●Sleeping in the same bed with another adult, pregnant woman, infant, or child
●Sexual contact
●Kissing
●Sharing cups, utensils, towels, razors, toothbrushes
The duration of the restricted period depends upon the dose received amount of thyroid tissue and the rate of clearance. As an example, treated patients should avoid sleeping in the same bed with an adult for four days and for up to three weeks with a pregnant partner, infant, or child after treatment with 200 mCi (7400 MBq). The restricted period is calculated individually for each treated patient.
There are long-term data to assess the protective benefits of these precautions. In a study of 30 patients with thyroid cancer who received 75 to 150 mCi (2.775 to 5.550 GBq) of 131-I as outpatients, exposure of family members was minimal when precautions were followed. Patients were instructed to sleep alone, drink fluids liberally, and avoid prolonged close personal contact with family members for two days after treatment. Surveillance of family members and pets demonstrated that doses to household members were well below the limit (5 mSv) mandated by NRC regulations.
