Radioprotection 61-2 | страница 82

C. Michel et al.: Radioprotection 2026, 61( 2), 146 – 155 151

Table 5. Calculated waiting periods from time of death to body transport and embalming meeting the 300 mSv dose criterion per post-mortem procedure, for the scenario of death immediately following radiopharmaceutical administration( worst case for radiation protection).

Radiopharmaceutical

Administered activity( GBq)

Waiting period( from time of death) before transport( days)

Waiting period( from time of death) before embalming( days)

Table 6. Calculated time intervals between administration and death allowing immediate body transport and embalming, meeting the 300 mSv dose criterion per post-mortem procedure.

Radiopharmaceutical

Administered activity( GBq)

Time interval between administration and death( days, rounded up)

3.2.1 Death immediately following radiopharmaceutical administration

The minimum waiting periods after death when death occurs immediately following administration( worst case for radiation protection) are summarized in Table 5.

According to French regulations( JORF, 2011), at the time of the study, body transport had to be completed within 48 h after death, and embalming within 6 days. For radiation protection reasons, these time limits might need to be exceeded for indium-111-pentetreotide, iodine-131 for thyroid cancer, iodine-131-MIBG, and iodine-131-lipiocis ®. In such cases, an exemption had to be granted by the State representative to exceed the legal time limits. However, in 2024, French regulations were modified( JORF, 2024), and embalming must now be performed within 14 days. Therefore, the number of cases requiring exemptions is slightly reduced and now limited to those of indium-111-pentetreotide( transport only), iodine- 131 for thyroid cancer( 3.7 and 5.6 GBq administered), iodine- 131-MIBG and iodine-131-Lipiocis( transport only).

3.2.2 Death some days after radiopharmaceutical administration

If death does not occur immediately after administration, it is possible to calculate the minimum time interval between administration and death that allows the deceased patient to be managed immediately after death.

These time intervals are summarized in Table 6.

3.3 Hospitalization of patients: Death after patient release

For certain treatments in France, patients are systematically hospitalized. In most French nuclear medicine departments, the equivalent dose rate is measured at the time of patient release, with a release criterion generally set at 20 – 25 mSv / h at 1 meter from the patient. If the release criterion is met at patient release and if the patient dies afterwards, the equivalent dose criterion of 150 mSv / h is inherently satisfied. Therefore, the deceased patient can be transported and embalmed immediately.