Postdischarge radiation exposure from I-131–treated thyroid cancer patients: implications for dental practice

Akdoğan E. T., Pınarbaşı E. M., Coşkun S., YEYİN N., ALMisned G., Tekin H. O., ...Daha Fazla

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Özet

Objectives This study evaluated, for the first time, the radiation exposure of dentists examining thyroid cancer patients following radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. Study Design External dose-rate measurements were performed at distances of 5–100 cm in 93 differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients between Days 1 and 7 after discharge. Patients were classified according to administered RAI activity as Group I (1110–2775 MBq, n = 31) and Group II (3700–7400 MBq, n = 62). Measurements were obtained in the anterior oblique position with patients seated upright to simulate dental examination conditions. Results In Group I, the cumulative radiation dose potentially received by a dentist was 461.75 µSv on Day 1 after discharge, decreasing to 112 µSv and 92 µSv on Days 2 and 3, respectively. In Group II, cumulative doses on Days 1–4 after discharge were 1148 µSv, 447 µSv, 73 µSv, and 37 µSv, respectively. Conclusions The findings indicate that patients receiving '3700 MBq RAI may safely undergo dental examination approximately 24–26 hours after discharge with appropriate radiation protection precautions, whereas dental treatment in patients receiving ≥3700 MBq RAI should preferably be postponed for at least 48 hours to maintain occupational exposure below the 1 mSv public dose limit.