Quantitative Assessment of the Radiation Exposure during Pathologic Process in the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy using Radioactive Colloid

Song, Yoo Sung; Lee, Jeong Won; Lee, Ho Young; Kim, Seok Ki; Kang, Keon Wook; Kook, Myeong Cherl; Park, Weon Seo; Lee, Geon Kook; Hong, Eun Kyung; Lee, Eun Sook

Abstract

PURPOSE: Sentinel lymph node biopsy became the standard procedure in early breast cancer surgery. Faculty members might be exposed to a trace amount of radiation. The aim of this study is to quantify the radiation exposure and verify the safety of the procedure and the facilities, especially during pathologic process.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sentinel lymph node biopsies with Tc-99m human serum albumin were performed as routine clinical work. Exposed radiation doses were measured in pathologic technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, and nuclear medicine physician using a thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) during one month. We also measured the residual radioactivities or absorbed dose rates, the exposure distance and time during procedure, the radiation dose of the waste and the ambient equivalent dose of the pathology laboratory.
RESULTS
Actual exposed doses were 0.21 and 0.85 (uSv/study) for the whole body and hand of pathology technologist after 47 sentinel node pathologic preparations were performed. Whole body exposed doses of nuclear medicine physician and technologist were 0.2 and 2.3 (uSv/study). According to this data and the exposure threshold of the general population (1 mSv), at least 1100 studies were allowed in pathology technologist. The calculated exposed dose rates (micro Sv/study) from residual radioactivities data were 2.47/ 22.4 micro Sv (whole body/ hand) for the surgeon; 0.22/ 0 micro Sv for operation nurse. The ambient equivalent dose of the pathology laboratory was 0.02-0.03 mR/hr. The radiation dose of the waste was less than 100 Bq/g and nearly was not detected.
CONCLUSION
Pathologic procedure relating sentinel lymph node biopsy using radioactive colloid is safe in terms of the radiation safety.