general a few days, but patients should ask their health care providers. WHAT ARE Understand the potential for increased risk • Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive of thyroid cancer in children exposed to compounds used in a wide range of medical therapy patients if the physician’s treatments that are meant to improve the recommendations are not followed. health of individuals. One of the more common radiopharmaceuticals in use today contains Hospitals should consider not releasing radioactive iodine -131, or patients following therapeutic treatment with “I-131”. I-131 if there might be a risk of exposure to CONCERNS children or infants at home. WITH PATIENTS OTHER REGULATORY ASSOCIATED RECEIVING RADIOPHARMACERTICAL The International Commission on Radiological TREATMENT? Protection recently reported that the internal dose to the thyroid for infants and young children who may come in contact with a patient recently administered therapeutic quantities of I-131, such as oral sodium iodide I-131), I-131, could result in significant doses to the child’s thyroid and potentially raise the risk of subsequent radiation-induced thyroid cancer. MDPH The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Radiation Control Program (MDPH/RCP) has issued an information notice to medical licensees who are in the practice of administering I-131, advising them of concerns and actions that should be taken to reduce exposure to I-131. Solid waste materials, such as diapers, tissues, Patients who have received therapeutic I-131 or articles of disposable bedding or clothing treatments should: possibly contaminated with radioactive materials should not be disposed of in the direct or indirect contact, including • regular trash. Instead, these materials should shared living space with infants and young be placed in a heavy plastic garbage bag or children (e.g., consider having children stay sealable container, which should then be outside the home or with other family stored in a secure place away from people members) for a specific period of time, in (e.g., a closet, remote hallway, entryway, or general a few days, but patients should ask shed) until its radioactive contents have had their health care providers. sufficient time to decay. Have adequate living at home that can • Your medical provider should give you verbal be used only by the patient (e.g., a instructions and written information about how bedroom) for a specific period of time, in
Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive compounds used in a wide range of medical treatments that are meant to improve the health of individuals. One of the more common radiopharmaceuticals in use today contains radioactive iodine -131, or “I-131”. The International Commission on Radiological Protection recently reported that the internal dose to the thyroid for infants and young children who may come in contact with a patient recently administered therapeutic quantities of I-131, such as oral sodium iodide I-131, could result in significant doses to the child’s thyroid and potentially raise the risk of subsequent radiation-induced thyroid cancer. MDPH The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Radiation Control Program (MDPH/RCP) has issued an information notice to medical licensees who are in the practice of administering I-131, advising them of concerns and actions that should be taken to reduce exposure to I-131. Patients who have received therapeutic I-131 treatments should: • direct or indirect contact, including shared living space with infants and young children (e.g., consider having children stay outside the home or with other family members) for a specific period of time, in general a few days, but patients should ask their health care providers. • Have adequate living at home that can be used only by the patient (e.g., a bedroom) for a specific period of time, in general a few days, but patients should ask their health care providers. • Understand the potential for increased risk of thyroid cancer in children exposed to therapy patients if the physician’s recommendations are not followed. Hospitals should consider not releasing patients following therapeutic treatment with I-131 if there might be a risk of exposure to children or infants at home. WHAT OTHER REGULATORY CONCERNS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PATIENTS RECEIVING RADIOPHARMACERTICAL TREATMENT? I-131), Solid waste materials, such as diapers, tissues, or articles of disposable bedding or clothing possibly contaminated with radioactive materials should not be disposed of in the regular trash. Instead, these materials should be placed in a heavy plastic garbage bag or sealable container, which should then be stored in a secure place away from people (e.g., a closet, remote hallway, entryway, or shed) until its radioactive contents have had sufficient time to decay. Your medical provider should give you verbal instructions and written information about how
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