A cost-effective way to reduce the equivalent eye lens dose fromYttrium-90 radiopharmaceuticals

• Published in: Zeitschrift für medizinische Physik 2021-02, Vol.31 (1), p.16-22
• Main Authors: Oliveira, Susie Medeiros, Thomas, Sylvia, Sá, Lidia Vasconcellos de, Berdeguez, Mirta Barbara Torres, Mauricio, Claudia Lucia Pinho, Souza, Sergio Augusto Lopes de
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Eye Protective Devices; Eye protective equipment; Humans; Lens, Crystalline - radiation effects; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupational Exposure - prevention & control; Radiation Dosage; Radiation dose; Radiation Protection - instrumentation; Radiation Protection - methods; Radiopharmaceuticals - therapeutic use; Sensitivity and Specificity; Yttrium Radioisotopes; Yttrium-90
• ISSN: 0939-3889; 1876-4436; 1876-4436
• DOI: 10.1016/j.zemedi.2020.09.006

We analyzed the effect of the use of Eye Protective Equipment (EPE) and the best position to use individual dosimeters to estimate the eye lens radiation dose to a medical staff that works with yttrium-90. Three Alderson-Head-Phantoms were exposed to 58MBq of 90Y for 24h, in two different experiments: (1) at different dosimeter placements and (2) with and without the use of EPE. The measurements were carried on by thermoluminescent technique. Doses received by dosimeters on both lenses were more closely represented by the ones placed between the eyes than those on the temples, which underestimated the doses by a factor of 3. Also, the transmission factors showed that the EPE was able to reduce the Hp(3) values from about 78% to 92%. This study demonstrated that the use of EPE can optimize the 90Y eye lens dose. An individual dosimeter should be worn between the eyes for an appropriate estimate of this equivalent dose.