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Calculating the Absorbed Dose from Radioactive Patients: The Line-Source Versus Point-Source Model Jeffry A. Siegel, PhD1; Carol S. Marcus, PhD, MD2; and Richard B. Sparks, PhD3 1Nuclear Physics Enterprises, Cherry Hill, New Jersey; 2Radiological Sciences and Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, California; and 3CDE Dosimetry Services, Incorporated, Knoxville, Tennessee ceiving therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Although it is ex- In calculations of absorbed doses from radioactive patients, the pected that radioactive patients are counseled to stay a reason- activity distribution in such patients is generally assumed to be able distance from others, there are often specific situations an unattenuated point source and the dose to exposed individ- that need to be addressed, such as doses to others while uals at a given distance is therefore calculated using the inverse sleeping, using public or private transportation, or being in a square law. In many nuclear medicine patients, the activity distribution is widely dispersed and does not simulate a point theater for a few hours. In addition, calculating radiation ab- source. In these cases, a line-source model is proposed to more sorbed dose to individuals exposed to diagnostic nuclear med- accurately reflect this extended activity distribution. Methods: icine patients is often prudent, if only to reassure patients, their Calculations of dose rate per unit activity were performed for a families, and their caregivers. Patients who are mothers with point source and for line sources of lengths of 20, 50, 70, 100, young children are especially apprehensive about radiation and and 174 cm, and the ratios of line-source values to point-source often want to know the potential dose to their children. In such values were calculated. In addition, radionuclide-independent calculations, the activity distribution in the patient is usually conversion factors, to convert exposure rate constants to dose rates per unit activity, for these line-source lengths at various assumed to be an unattenuated point source, and the dose to distances were determined. Results: The calculated values, exposed individuals at a given distance is therefore calculated substantiated by published data, indicate that the inverse under the assumption that the dose varies inversely as the square law approximation is not valid for a line source until a square of the distance from the patient. If appropriate patient certain distance is reached, dependent on the length of the line attenuation correction is performed, this inverse square rela- source. For the 20-, 50-, 70-, 100-, and 174-cm line sources, the tionship is essentially correct in the case of hyperthyroid pa- dose rate values estimated by the inverse square law approxi- tients, for example, in whom significant radioiodine uptake and mation are within approximately 10% of the values estimated using the line-source approach at distances of 20, 45, 60, 85, prolonged retention is usually limited to the thyroid gland. and 145 cm, respectively. At closer distances, use of the point- However, this relationship is not valid and yields an overesti- source model for a patient with an extended activity distribution mate of the dose, in the general case of patients receiving will overestimate the radiation absorbed dose to exposed indi- radionuclide therapy, such as palliative treatment of bony me- viduals, sometimes by a very significant amount. Conclusion: tastases or radioimmunotherapy. In such patients, the activity is The line-source model is a more realistic and practical approach more widely distributed (1–3). In radioimmunotherapy, most than the traditional point-source model for determining the dose of the activity is located within the torso, and in radionuclide to individuals exposed to radioactive patients with widespread activity distributions. therapy involving bone disease, the activity may be located along the entire length of the patient. It is proposed that a Key Words: radionuclide therapy; patient release; radiation safety; dosimetry line-source model with attenuation correction, using the mea- sured dose rate, be used for these cases that involve more J Nucl Med 2002; 43:1241–1244 widespread activity distributions. We realize that other models may be even more accurate, but we are limiting this study to the line-source approximation because it is more accurate than the point-source model, is conservative, and can easily be Patients receiving radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive routinely implemented. sources, and calculating the radiation absorbed dose to nearby individuals is frequently necessary, especially for patients re- MATERIALS AND METHODS The dose to an individual exposed to a radioactivity-containing patient can be estimated using a point-source model by the fol- Received Nov. 8, 2001; revision accepted May 21, 2002. For correspondence or reprints contact: Jeffry A. Siegel, PhD, Nuclear lowing equation (1,4): Physics Enterprises, 216 Society Hill, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003. ͑ϱ ͒ ϭ ͑ ⌫ ͒ 2 E-mail: [email protected] D ,r 34.6 Q0TpE /r ,Eq.1 ABSORBED DOSE FROM RADIOACTIVE PATIENTS • Siegel et al. 1241 where D(ϱ,r) is the total dose (actually, the total dose equivalent in lengths of 20, 50, 70, 100, and 174 cm (the 20-, 50-, and 100-cm mSv or mrem) to others from exposure to the photon radiation at lengths were selected to add flexibility for the user) at various a distance r (cm) from the patient, ⌫ is the exposure rate constant distances up to 100 cm, and the ratios of line-source values to 2 2 of the radionuclide (mSv cm /MBq h or mrem cm /mCi h), Q0 is point-source values were calculated. In addition, radionuclide- the administered activity (MBq or mCi), Tp is the physical half-life independent conversion factors, to convert exposure rate constants of the radionuclide (d), and E is the occupancy factor. Equation 1 to dose rates per unit activity, for these line-source lengths at is applicable only for the specific case of infinite decay and a single various distances were determined. occupancy factor. When more general conditions exist, such as variable exposure times and occupancy factors, modifications must be made. Equation 1 is usually solved for dose at a distance of 1 m, RESULTS although any distance can be used. If measurements of biologic The ratios of line-source values to point-source values as elimination of the radioactive material from the patient are made, a function of distance and line-source length are shown in as they should be especially if the radiopharmaceutical is signifi- Table 1. These values are radionuclide independent; thus, cantly eliminated from the body through biologic processes, the the ratios for each given line-source model directly indicate effective half-life Te should be used in place of the physical the point-source model agreement at each distance for any half-life Tp. The exposure rate constant ⌫ is strictly a measure of exposure rate and not the total effective dose equivalent as spec- radionuclide. The values in Table 1 indicate that the inverse ified in Regulatory Guide 8.39 (2) of the Nuclear Regulatory square law approximation is not valid for a line source until Commission, because ⌫ does not account for attenuation and a certain distance is reached, dependent on the length of the scatter in the patient or exposed individual. In addition, Equation line source. For the 20-, 50-, 70-, 100-, and 174-cm line Ϫ 1 assumes than an exposure of 2.58 ϫ 10 4 C/kg (1 R) is an sources shown in Table 1, the dose rate values estimated by effective dose equivalent of 1 cSv (1 rem). Estimates of attenuation the inverse square law approximation are within approxi- and tissue shielding by the patient may be accounted for through mately 10% of the values estimated using the line-source theoretic calculation by multiplying ⌫ by an appropriate factor to correct for patient attenuation and scatter or by measurement of approach at distances of 20, 45, 60, 85, and 145 cm (not actual patient dose rates. The dose rate at a given distance is shown in Table 1), respectively. At closer distances, use of 2 theoretically equal to the ⌫ Q0/r term in Equation 1, and, if the point-source model for a patient with an extended ac- measured, the measured dose rate should be used in place of this tivity distribution overestimates dose rate and, accordingly, term. There is no need to further correct the measured dose rate for overestimates the radiation absorbed dose to exposed indi- patient attenuation because the measurement incorporates patient viduals, sometimes by a very significant amount. attenuation. Although the additional step of measuring the actual Radionuclide-independent conversion factors (cmϪ2), to dose rate at a specified distance more accurately estimates the dose convert exposure rate constants ⌫ (mSv cm2/MBq h or to exposed individuals, the calculation of the dose at other than the mrem cm2/mCi h) to dose rates per unit activity (mSv/MBq measurement distance still assumes an inverse square dose–dis- h or mrem/mCi h) at a given distance for the various tance relationship. For a line-source model, the falloff in dose is more complicated line-source lengths, are given in Table 2. Dose rates per unit (5,6) than for a point source. It is a function of the angle in radians activity at a given distance, for any radionuclide, can be subtended by the length of the line source and the perpendicular determined from Table 2 by simply multiplying the values distance from the line to the target individual: by the appropriate exposure rate constant. Of course, these Ϫ values are theoretic; they must be corrected for patient D͑ϱ,r͒ ϭ ͓34.6⌫Q T E tan 1 ͑ᐉ/2r͔͒/͑ᐉr/2͒,Eq.2 0 p attenuation and scatter. If patient dose rates at a given where ᐉ is the length of the line source in centimeters.

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