Detection at Public Facilities of 131I in Patients Treated for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Frequency, Sites, Management by Security Agents, and Physician Documentation Recommended for Patients.
Detection at Public Facilities of 131I in Patients Treated for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Frequency, Sites, Management by Security Agents, and Physician Documentation Recommended for Patients.
- 2019
Available online from MWHC library: 1964 - present, Available in print through MWHC library: 1999 - 2006
Rationale: Patients treated with 131I may be identified at security checkpoints at various public facilities. The objective of this survey was to determine the frequency of detection, spectrum of public facilities, the various management of these patients by security agents, and the spectrum of physician documentation for the patient regarding his/her 131I therapy. Methods: Data were tabulated from a ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. (ThyCa) survey emailed to ~15,000 associates and available online from Dec 2013 to Dec 2014. Responses were tabulated from respondents who reported that they were >18 yo, had at least one therapy of 131I for differentiated thyroid cancer, and were responding regarding their last 131I therapy. Results: Of 621 respondents, 595 reported an attempt to pass through a public facility security checkpoint. Of these 595 pts, 9.6%(57) were identified as being radioactive, and of 43 respondents, the facility was an airport in 35%(15), border crossing in 33%(14), government building in 19%(8), shopping mall in 7%(3), train station in 5%(2), and steel recycling plant in 2%(1). Of 47 respondents, the security agent's management of the patient included questioning 38%(81), allowing to proceed without a change in travel plans 57%(27), requesting documentation of the therapy 55%(26), rescanning 55%(26), calling a member of the treating team for validation 17%(8), "strip" searching 4%(2), detaining such that a change in travel plans was required 6%(3), and/or prohibiting continued travel for 4%(2). Of 47 respondents, they were detained from <30 min 57%(27), 30-<60 min 21%(10), 1-<1.5 hrs 15%(7), 1.5- <2hrs 2%(1), 2-4 hrs 0%(0), > 4 hrs 4%(2). Data regarding physician documentation are presented Conclusion: Detection of radioactivity in public facilities after 131 I therapy occurred in 9.6% of patient-respondents in a variety of security checkpoints. Travel inconvenience is not infrequent and may require altering travel plans. Physicians should take steps to assure that patients not only have appropriate documentation of their 131I therapy with them but also have instructions regarding how the security agent may verify the patients' 131I therapy. Copyright (c) 2018 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.
English
0161-5505
10.2967/jnumed.118.213256 [doi] jnumed.118.213256 [pii]
*Documentation
*Iodine Radioisotopes/an [Analysis]
*Iodine Radioisotopes/tu [Therapeutic Use]
*Physicians
*Public Facilities
*Security Measures
*Thyroid Neoplasms/rt [Radiotherapy]
Humans
Thyroid Neoplasms/pa [Pathology]
MedStar Health Research Institute
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Medicine/Endocrinology
Medicine/Nuclear Medicine
Journal Article
Available online from MWHC library: 1964 - present, Available in print through MWHC library: 1999 - 2006
Rationale: Patients treated with 131I may be identified at security checkpoints at various public facilities. The objective of this survey was to determine the frequency of detection, spectrum of public facilities, the various management of these patients by security agents, and the spectrum of physician documentation for the patient regarding his/her 131I therapy. Methods: Data were tabulated from a ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. (ThyCa) survey emailed to ~15,000 associates and available online from Dec 2013 to Dec 2014. Responses were tabulated from respondents who reported that they were >18 yo, had at least one therapy of 131I for differentiated thyroid cancer, and were responding regarding their last 131I therapy. Results: Of 621 respondents, 595 reported an attempt to pass through a public facility security checkpoint. Of these 595 pts, 9.6%(57) were identified as being radioactive, and of 43 respondents, the facility was an airport in 35%(15), border crossing in 33%(14), government building in 19%(8), shopping mall in 7%(3), train station in 5%(2), and steel recycling plant in 2%(1). Of 47 respondents, the security agent's management of the patient included questioning 38%(81), allowing to proceed without a change in travel plans 57%(27), requesting documentation of the therapy 55%(26), rescanning 55%(26), calling a member of the treating team for validation 17%(8), "strip" searching 4%(2), detaining such that a change in travel plans was required 6%(3), and/or prohibiting continued travel for 4%(2). Of 47 respondents, they were detained from <30 min 57%(27), 30-<60 min 21%(10), 1-<1.5 hrs 15%(7), 1.5- <2hrs 2%(1), 2-4 hrs 0%(0), > 4 hrs 4%(2). Data regarding physician documentation are presented Conclusion: Detection of radioactivity in public facilities after 131 I therapy occurred in 9.6% of patient-respondents in a variety of security checkpoints. Travel inconvenience is not infrequent and may require altering travel plans. Physicians should take steps to assure that patients not only have appropriate documentation of their 131I therapy with them but also have instructions regarding how the security agent may verify the patients' 131I therapy. Copyright (c) 2018 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.
English
0161-5505
10.2967/jnumed.118.213256 [doi] jnumed.118.213256 [pii]
*Documentation
*Iodine Radioisotopes/an [Analysis]
*Iodine Radioisotopes/tu [Therapeutic Use]
*Physicians
*Public Facilities
*Security Measures
*Thyroid Neoplasms/rt [Radiotherapy]
Humans
Thyroid Neoplasms/pa [Pathology]
MedStar Health Research Institute
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Medicine/Endocrinology
Medicine/Nuclear Medicine
Journal Article