MOMENTO Revista de Física, No.

#, Mes Año 1

DOSIMETRIC CONTRIBUTION OF THE ORGANS OF

BIOKINETICS OF TC99m AND I131 TO ESTIMATE DOSE IN
ADULT THYROID

CONTRIBUCIÓN DOSIMÉTRICA DE ÓRGANOS DE LA

BIOCINÉTICA DEL TC99m Y I131 PARA ESTIMAR DOSIS EN
TIROIDES DE ADULTOS

Marcial Vásquez Arteaga1, Héctor Vega Carrillo2,

Carlos Castillo Diestra3, Alberto Jiménez García1, Huber Rodriguez
Nomura1, Fernando Chanduvi Calderon1, Indalecio Quispe-
Rodríguez4, César Quispe-Ayala5, Carlos Rodriguez-Benites6,7
1
Universidad Señor de Sipán, Perú.
2
Unidad Académica de Estudios Nucleares, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, México.
3
Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Perú.
4
Departamento Académico de Ingeniería de Minas y Civil, Universidad Nacional de San Cristóbal de
Huamanga, Perú.
5
Departamento Académico de Pedagogía, Universidad Nacional de Huancavelica, Perú.
6
Departamento Académico de Ciencias y Humanidades, Universidad Nacional de Huancavelica, Perú.
7
Departamento Académico de Física, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Perú.

Abstract

The absorbed dose in the thyroid uptake studies is estimated, by analysis of

the biokinetics of radiopharmaceuticals containing the I131 (iodide) or Tc99m
(pertechnetate). Using the MIRD formalism and the Cristy-Eckerman
representation for the thyroid of adult patients, it is shown that the organ's
dosimetric contribution of the biokinetics of I 131 (iodide) is not significant in
estimating its dose. The total dose absorbed by the gland is its self-dose given
by 340,9 mGy/MBq; where 90,06% of this dose corresponds to beta emissions
of I131. The dosimetric contribution of the source organs to the biokinetics of
Tc99m (pertechnetate) in the thyroid gland is significant in the dose estimate
and therefore should not be ignored. The absorbed dose to the gland due to
pertechnetate is 0,0234 mGy/MBq. The dosimetric contributions of organs
that are part of its biokinetics is 7,26%; 7,13% of this value corresponds to the
"rest of the body", whose dose to the gland comes from X- radiation.

Keywords: MIRD dosimetry, Cristy-Eckerman phantom, thyroid uptake, iodide

and pertecnetate.

Carlos Rodriguez Benites: carlos.rodriguez.b@uni.pe

2 Marcial Vásquez Arteaga et. al.

Resumen

Se estima la dosis absorbida en la glándula tiroidea durante sus estudios de

captación mediante análisis de la biocinética de radiofármacos que contienen
I131 (yoduro) o Tc99m (pertecnetato). Utilizando el formalismo MIRD y la
representación de Cristy-Eckerman para la tiroides de pacientes adultos, se
muestra que la contribución dosimétrica de los órganos de la biocinética de
I131 (yoduro) no es significativa para estimar su dosis. La dosis total absorbida
por la glándula es de 340,9 mGy/MBq que corresponde a su auto-dosis El
90,06% de esta dosis corresponde a emisiones beta de I 131. La contribución
dosimétrica debido a los órganos de la biocinética del Tc99m (pertecnetato) en
la glándula tiroides es significativa en el estimado de la dosis y, por lo tanto,
no debe ignorarse. La dosis absorbida por la glándula debido al pertecnetato
es de 0,0234 mGy/MBq. El aporte dosimétrico de órganos que forman parte
de su biocinética es del 7,26%; El 7,13% de este valor corresponde al "resto
del cuerpo", cuya dosis a la glándula proviene de la radiación X.

Palabras Clave: Dosimetría MIRD, Fantoma Cristy-Eckerman, captación

tiroidea, yoduro y pertecnetato

Introduction

The dose absorbed by the thyroid gland of an adult for uptake studies, can be
estimated by analyzing the biokinetics of radiopharmaceuticals used, containing
I131 (iodide) orTc99m pertechnetate.

For the dosimetric calculation the MIRD (Medical Internal Radiation Dosimetry)
methodology is used, which calculates the dose deposited in a target organ from
one or more biokinetic source organs.

In the MIRD method, the specific absorbed fractions (SAF) of the radionuclides
are calculated in the MIRD mathematical phantoms, using Monte Carlo
simulation methods, ALGAMP [1].

We will use the representations developed by Cristy-Eckerman for adult organs

[2]. The height, body weight, and organ masses of these MIRD phantoms are in
agreement with data from the Reference Man of the publication ICRP-23 [3].
Dosimetric contribution of the organs of biokinetics of Tc99m and I131 to estimate dose in thyroid 3

MIRD dosimetry of gamma emitters based on the “SAF”, Φ, assume that

radiopharmaceuticals are uniformly distributed in various regions of the
human body with reference geometry.

The equation for absorbed dose to the thyroid gland is due to MIRD is given
by [4]:

D    j i   E  f E T B
A0
    
i 1
i
k
k  k ( j  i ) 
 mf

mT B
(1)

Where, 1st term is contribution by photon emission from all source organs;
2nd term is contribution for beta emissions from the source body itself, and
3rd term is contribution due to beta emission of the non-source organ (“other
organs”). Also, τ = Ã/Ao is the residence time for the source organs; Ã, the
accumulated activity related to the to biokinetics models.

Using the MIRD methodology and the Cristy-Eckerman representation in thyroid

from adult patients, the study consists of demonstrating whether the dosimetric
contributions of the organs that are part of the biokinetics of I131 (iodide) and
Tc99m (pertechnetate) are significant in their estimation.

Materials and Methods

To estimate the absorbed dose to the thyroid of adult patients, due to the
dosimetric contributions biokinetics bodies, were used MIRD formalism and
representation of Cristy-Eckerman to these organs. MIRD considered
equations for photons and particles respectively [5] (Aabymn, 2013):
(1rad/µCi =270 mGy/MBq).

Dphotons  thyroid   
A0
    
i 1
i
k
k  k (thy  i)  270 mGy / MBq

(2)

D particles  thy  thy   

  thyroid  TB 
 2.13  E particle  E particle  270 mGy / MBq (3)
A0  m thyroid mTB 
 

 TB  Total residence time of the body

4 Marcial Vásquez Arteaga et. al.

mTB  Total body mass

The absorbed fractions, Φk (thyroid ← i) g-1, of "i" analyzed organs (organs

biokinetics), for photon energies "k" of I131 and Tc99m were obtained from
ORNL/TM-8381/V7 [6] (M. Cristy et al., V7, 1987a). Residence times of
radiopharmaceuticals mentioned in each organ biokinetics given in Tables 1 and
2 were obtained from the website [7] (Doseinfo-radar, 2013).

rad  gm
 k  2,13 nk E k ( )
Ci  hr , represents the average energy of the "k"
photons emitted in the decay of I131 and Tc99m, given in Table 3, were obtained
from web page (Hps, 2013) [8].


E particle
(MeV/des.), Represents the average energy of particles emitted by the
I131and Tc99m,
ie represents the electrons appearing in the decay processes for
capturing and Auger electrons are given in Table 4 and were obtained from web
page (Hps, 2013) [8]

Table 1. Residence times (hours) and biokinetics of I131 (iodide) [6] (Doseinfo-
radar, 2013).

Organ of
Small Rest of body
biokinetics Thyroid Stómach Kidneys Bladder
intestine
iodide

ᵢ (hours) 60,72 1,66 1,66 0,095 1,32 7,76

Table 2. Residence times (hours) and biokinetics of Tc99m (pertechnetate) [6]

(Doseinfo-radar, 2013).

Organ of Rest ULI LLI

ULI
biokinetics Stomach of wall content
Thyroid Content Kidney Bladder
iodide body

ᵢ (horas) 0,037 0,154 0,743 0,033 0,345 4,32 0,54 0,363

Dosimetric contribution of the organs of biokinetics of Tc99m and I131 to estimate dose in thyroid 5

Table 3. Data for nuclear emitted photons (MeV) of I131 and Tc99m most
significant [8] (Hps, 2013).
nk /des  k  2,13 nk E k
RFM Photons E k (Me V)
rad  gm
( )
Ci  hr
0,080 0,026 0,0044

0,284 0,06 0,0363

Gamma 0,364 0,817 0,6334

0,637 0,0717 0,097

I131
0,723 0,0177 0,027

0,0295 0,0138 0,00088

Radiation
0,0298 0,0256 0,0016
Characteristic
0,0336 0,009 0,0006

0,14053 0,8906 0,2665

Gamma
0,1426 0,0002 0,0001

Tc99m 0,0183 0,021 0,0008

Radiation
0,0184 0,040 0,0016
Characteristic
0,0206 0,012 0,0005

Table 4: Data for nuclear emitted particles (MeV) of I131 and Tc99m most
significant [8] (Hps, 2013).

nk Ek
Ek E particle   nkEk
RFM Particles nk /des ( MeV / des)
(MeV)
( MeV / des)

0,0694 0,021 0,00145

I131 Beta 0,0966 0,073 0,007 0,182

0,1916 0,899 0,1722

6 Marcial Vásquez Arteaga et. al.

0,283 0,0048 0,00135

0,0456 0,0354 0,0016

0,359 0,0025 0,00089

Electron
0,0076
Conversion
0,3299 0,0155 0,0051

0,2497 0,003 0,00075

0,0034 0,051 0,00017

Electrons
0,000317
Auger
0,0246 0,006 0,000147

0,1195 0,088 0,01052

0,1216 0,0055 0,00067

0,1375 0,0107 0,0015

Electron
Conversion
0,1396 0,0017 0,00024
Tc99m
0,140 0.0019 0,00026 0,01439

0,0016 0,746 0,0012

0,0022 0,102 0,00022

Electrons
Auger
0,0155 0,0207 0,00032 0,00054

Mass values thyroid and organ biokinetics were obtained from 0RNL/TM-
8381/V1 [9] (Cristy and Eckerman, 1987b), and are given in Table 5.

Table 5: Mass values (g) for thyroid and whole body of an adult Cristy -
Eckerman representation [8] (Cristy and Eckerman, 1987b)

Mass (grams) Adult

Thyroid 20,7
Total body (TB) 73700
Dosimetric contribution of the organs of biokinetics of Tc99m and I131 to estimate dose in thyroid 7

Results

Using the MIRD methodology and the biokinetic characteristics of Tc99m and
I131 in the source organs and target organ of the gland, the absorbed dose was
calculated using equations 1 and 2.

In Table 6, the Cristy-Eckerman reference phantoms, and the residence times

given in Tables 1 and 2 are used.

Table 6: Absorbed dose to the thyroid of adult, due to I131 and Tc99m in the
representation Cristy - Eckerman and MIRD formalism (mGy/MBq).
D(thy ← Sub-
RFM emissions D(thy←i)/Ao* TOTAL
thy)/Ao total

Photons: γ 19,84 0,05

20,53
X 0,69 0,006

I131 Emission Beta 307,03 340,9

(iodide
) e- conversion 12,82 - 320,37

e- Auger 0,52

Photons: γ 0,0037 0,00167

0.0059
Tc99m X 0.00051 0.000043
0,0234
-
(pertec e conversion 0,0165
- 0,0175
netate) e- Auger 0,001

(*) i = all source organs except the thyroid

Discussion

The results are shown in Table 6 and show that:

(1) The absorbed dose to the gland due to emissions from I131 (iodide) is 340,9
mGy / MBq; 99,98% is self - dose (90,06% to beta emissions, 3,76 %, conversion
electrons, Auger electrons 0,15%, and the remaining 6,01% (5,82% due to the
8 Marcial Vásquez Arteaga et. al.

photons gamma + 0,2% due to characteristic radiation). The dosimetric

contribution of organs that are part of its biokinetics (excluding thyroid) is
negligible (0,016% of the total dose, mostly due to the contribution of gamma
photons).

(2) The absorbed dose to the gland due to emissions of Tc99m (pertechnetate) is
0,0234 mGy/MBq, the 92,77% is self - dose (70,51% conversion electrons,
4,27% to Auger electrons, the remaining 17,80 % (15,6% due to photon gamma
+ 2,2% due to characteristics radiation ). The dosimetric contribution of organs
that are part of its biokinetics (excluding thyroid), is 7,26%, significant value to
be ignore. It is the "rest of the body", organ of biokinetics that contributes 7,13%
of the dose in the gland and that comes from X radiation.

The total absorbed dose due to Tc99m emissions is one hundredth of the dose
obtained for I131. Depending on the type of radiopharmaceutical used and
biokinetics, shall the significance of their contributions in the estimated absorbed
dose to the thyroid gland [10] (Quimby and Feitelberg, 1970).

Conclusions

Using the formalism MIRD and Cristy-Eckerman representation thyroid of adult

patients, it is shown that for studies of thyroid uptake, the dosimetric contribution
of organs that are part of the biokinetics of I131 (iodide), excluding the thyroid is
not significant in the estimated dose; while the dosimetric contribution of organs
that are part of the biokinetics of Tc99m (pertechnetate), excluding the thyroid, is
very significant in the estimated absorbed dose to the patient to be ignored.

References

[1] Ryman, J.C., Warner, G.G., and Eckerman, K.F. 1987a. ALGAMP-a Monte
Carlo Radiation transport code for calculating specific absorbed fractions of
energy from internal or external photon sources. Oak Ridge National
Laboratory Rep. ORNL/TM-8377.
[2] Cristy M., Mathematical phantoms representing children at various ages for
use in estimates of internal dose, Report ORNL/NUREG/TM-367, Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn., USA, 1980
[3] ICRP - Report of the Task Group on Reference Man. ICRP Publication 23,
International Commission on Radiological Protection, Pergamon Press,
Oxford, 1975.
[4] ICRP 53. Radiation dose to patients from radiopharmaceuticals. ICRP 1988;
Vol. 18:1-4.
Dosimetric contribution of the organs of biokinetics of Tc99m and I131 to estimate dose in thyroid 9

[5] Aabymn (2013), “Dosis de radiación recibida por los pacientes tras la
administración de radiofármacos”, Retrieved from
http://www.aabymn.org.ar/archivos/dosisradiacion.pdf
[6] Cristy M, Eckerman K (1987a), Specific absorbed fractions of energy at
various ages from internal photons Sources”, Oak Ridge, TN: ORNL/TM-
8381/V7.
[7] Doseinfo-radar (2013), Kinetic Models Used as the Basic for the Dose
Estimates. Retrieved from http://www.doseinfo-radar.com/NMdoses.xls .
[8] HPS (2013), Radionuclide Decay Data. Retrieved from
http://hps.org/publicinformation/radardecaydata.cfm .
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various ages from internal photons Sources, Oak Ridge, TN: ORNL/TM-
8381/V1.
[10] Quimby E, Feitelberg S. Gross W. (1970). Radiactive Nuclides in Medicine
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