Presentation
Chest radiograph requested by rheumatologist for rheumatoid arthritis. No prior radiographs in chart.
Patient Data
A brachytherapy seed from prostate cancer treatment has migrated to the lungs.
The radioactive half life of the seeds (iodine-125 is 60 days and palladium-103 for 17 days).
So after 4 half lives (8 months for iodine and 2 months for palladium) the seeds should only have 1/16 or 6% of their radioactivity left (1/2 X 1/2 X 1/2 X 1/2).
Scintigraphy is another way to follow up for migration of seeds.
Case Discussion
A brachytherapy seed from prostate cancer treatment has migrated to the lungs.
Now we will do pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and CT of lungs as a baseline to evaluate for any local radiation-induced damage.
Brief literature search showed one diagnosed case of small cell lung cancer from the embolization of radiation seeds to the lungs and localized radiation pneumonitis and acute MI in one case.
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