Radioprotection 61-2

C. Michel et al.: Radioprotection 2026, 61( 2), 146 – 155 153

Table 8. Therapeutic procedures and administered activities requiring radiation protection measures for transport and embalming of deceased patients. Waiting periods under 1 day are shown in hours( rounded up) and those over 1 day in days( rounded up).

Therapeutic procedure

Administered activity

How to proceed: body transport

How to proceed: embalming

indium-111-pentetreotide: tumors overexpressing somatostatin receptors

iodine-131 ionic: benign thyroid diseases between 700 and 800 MBq

6.7 GBq	Wait for 8 days after death **	Wait for 11 days after death **
	Exception:
These post-mortem procedures can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 3 days after the
administration ***

800 MBq No special radiation protection measures *( Transport can be carried out immediately)

iodine-131 ionic: thyroid cancer	1.5 GBq	No special radiation protection measures *
		( Transport can be carried out immediately)

Wait for 24 hours after death ** Exception: Embalming can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 12 hours after the administration ***

Wait for 8 days after death ** Exception: Embalming can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 22 hours after the administration ***

3.7 GBq	Wait for 11 days after death **	Wait for 19 days after death **
	Exception:
These post-mortem procedures can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 3 days after the
administration ***

5.6 GBq	Wait for 16 days after death **	Wait for 24 days after death **
	Exception:
These post-mortem procedures can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 3 days after the
administration ***

iodine-131-MIBG: adrenals cancers

5.6 GBq	Wait for 16 days after death **	Wait for 24 days after death **
	Exception:
These post-mortem procedures can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 6 days after the
administration ***

7.4 GBq	Wait for 19 days after death **	Wait for 27 days after death **
	Exception:
These post-mortem procedures can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 7 days after the
administration ***

iodine-131-lipiocis ®: liver cancers( radioembolization)

2.2 GBq	Wait for 5 days after death **	Wait for 13 days after death **
	Exception:
These post-mortem procedures can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 9 days after the
administration ***

samarium-153: Bone metastasis( palliative)

4 GBq No special radiation protection measures *( Transport can be carried out immediately)

Wait for 2 days after death ** Exception: Embalming can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 2 days after the administration *** holmium-166: radioembolization of liver cancers with microspheres

lutetium-177: gastro entero pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

12 GBq	Wait for 24 hours days after death **	Wait for 2 days after death **
	Exception:
These post-mortem procedures can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 2 days after the
administration ***

7.4 GBq No special radiation protection measures *( Transport can be carried out immediately)

Wait for 5 days after death ** Exception: Embalming can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 17 hours after the administration *** lutetium-177: Metastatic prostate cancers

7.4 GBq No special radiation protection measures *( Transport can be carried out immediately)

Wait 4 days after death ** Exception: Embalming can be performed immediately if the death occurs more than 24 hours after the administration ***

Note: For cases with a non-zero waiting period, if a dose rate measurement at 0.5 m from the deceased patient is below 150 mSv / h, the postmortem procedures can be carried out immediately without special radiation protection measures( i. e., waiting time reduced to zero). * In this study, the external and internal contamination were not considered as funeral professionals routinely wear personal protective equipment( e. g., gloves) when handling of the body, regardless of its radioactive status. ** This waiting period was calculated assuming death occurs immediately after radiopharmaceutical administration; therefore, only physical decay applies. If death occurs after the time interval mentioned in the exception below, the post-mortem procedure can be performed immediately. *** This time interval between administration and death was calculated taking both biological elimination and physical decay into account.

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