Sample Problems

Activity
1) You have determined that for a certain implant you need to order a total of 200 mCi of
Au-198, and the provider requires that the order be placed in terms of becquerels. How
many becquerels does this represent?
200 mCi x 3.7 x 1010 Bq/Ci x 1Ci/1000mCi = 7.4 x 109 Bq

2) Every year a new decayed value must be determined for clinical use of the Cs-137 tubes.
The decay is always calculated from the original assayed value obtained when the source
was received. When source #10 was received on Sept. 2, 1989, that value was determined
to be 69.5 mCi. What would be the activity for the date correct to July 1, 1993?
1397 days / 365.25 days/yr = 3.825 years
A = Ao x e-(0.693 x t/T1/2)
69.5 mCi x e (-.693 x 3.825yr/30yr)
= 63.6 mCi

3) Solve for the activity at an earlier time than the known activity: If you place an order on
Wednesday for 100 Au-198 grains of an activity of 2 mCi each for the time of implant
which would be Wednesday of the following week, what activity would you ask for on
the order day?
A = Ao x e-(0.693 x t/T1/2)
2 mCi/grain = Ao x e (-.693x7 days/2.7days)
2 mCi/grain = Ao x 0.1659
Ao = (2 mCi/grain)/0.1659
Ao = 12.06 mCi/grain
4) You need 200 mCi of Ir-192 for an implant to be performed in 2 weeks. If you call in the
order today, how many mCi of Ir-192 do you request?
A = Ao x e-(0.693 x t/T1/2)
200 mCi = Ao x e 0.693x14days/74days
200 mCi = Ao x 0.87712
Ao = 228 mCi
5) You need 54 mCi of I-125 for an implant in 4 days. What activity do you ask for when
you call in the order today?
A = Ao x e-(0.693 x t/T1/2)
54 mCi = Ao x e 0.693x4days/59.6days
Ao = 56.6 mCi

Mean Life = 1.44 x T1/2

6) 106 mCi of Au-198 is implanted into a pelvic mass. Determine the emitted radiation.
Mean Life of Au-198 = Tav = 1.44 (T1/2)
Tav = 1.44 (2.7 days) = 3.888 days
Emitted radiation = 106 mCi x 3.888 days = 412.128 mCi-days
In SI units: 412.128 mCi-days x 24 hr/day x 60 min/hr x 60 sec/min = 3.561 x 107 mCi-sec
= 3.561 x 107 mCi-sec x (3.7 x 1010 Bq/Ci) x (1Ci/1000mCi)
1.317 x 1015 Bq = 1.317 x 1015 dis

Accumulated Dose
Permanent Implants: D = 1.44 x Do x T1/2 = Do x Tavg
Temporary Implants: D = Do x 1.44 x T1/2 x (1 e 0.693xt/T1/2)
7) For a prostate implant in which 58 I-125 seeds were implanted, computer calculation
shows the dose rate to a point is 1.5 cGy/hr. What will be the total dose to that point be
after complete decay?
Mean Life of I-125 (Tavg) = 1.44 x 59.6 days = 85.8 days x 24 hrs/day = 2059.2 hours
2059.2 hrs x 1.5 cGy/hr = 3,089 cGy

8) For an Ir -192 implant dose distribution, the doctor prescribed to the 60 cGy/hr isodose
line. He desires a total dose of 6000 cGy. Calculate the implant duration.
1.44 x 74.1 days = 106.704 days x 24 hrs/day = 2560.9 hrs
6000 cGy = 60cGy/hr x 2560.9 hrs x (1 - e-0.693t/74.1 days)
0.039049 = 1 - e-0.693t/74.1 days)
0.96095 = e-0.693t/74.1 days
ln(0.96095) = ln(e-0.693t/74.1 days)
-0.03983 = -0.693t/74.1days
t = 4.26days

9) I was called to the OR on 9/4/13 where neurosurgeons were removing strips of I-125
seeds from a patients brain as the implant was causing necrosis. The implant had been
performed at another institution and the only information available was the date of the
implant and the final total dose, which was 6/15/13 and 6,500 cGy. The problem then
becomes what dose was accumulated during the duration of the implant?
Expected accumulated dose = 6,500 cGy = Do x Tav
6/15/13 to 9/4/13 = 81 days elapsed time
D = 6,500 cGy x (1 e -0.693*81days/59.6days)
D = 6,500 cGy x (1 0.3899)
D = 3,965 cGy

10) In an Ir-192 implant to the tongue, the doctor chose the 60 cGy/hr line for the target dose
rate to give a total dose of 3,500 cGy. Insertion time was 5:00pm on 10/17/13. Calculate
the implant duration time including decay and state the date and time the radioactive
material should be removed.
D = Do x Tavg (1 e 0.693xt/T1/2)
Tav for Ir-192 = 1.44 x (74 days x 24 hr/day) = 2,557.4 hrs
3,500 cGy = 60 cGy/hr x 2,557.4 hrs (1 e-0.693xt/74days)
0.0228 = 1 e t/2557.4hrs
0.9772 = e-t/2557.4hrs
ln(0.9772) = ln(e-t/2557.4hrs)
-0.0231 = -t/2557.4hrs
t = 59.0 hrs = 2d 11h 5 min
10/20/13 at 4:05AM

11) A Pd-103 implant was performed that would have delivered a minimum tumor dose of
10,000 cGy, if it had been left in the tissue permanently. Due to need for further surgery,
the implant was removed after 22 days. What was the dose delivered in the time the
implant was in place?
Expected accumulated dose = 10,000 cGy = Do x Tav
D = 10,000 cGy x (1 e-0.693x22days/17days)
D = 10,000 cGy x 0.5921
D = 5,921 cGy

Exposure Rate using the Exposure Rate Constant

Exposure Rate () = x A x (1/r)2,
where A is activity, in mCi, and r, in cm, is the distance from the source

12) When a source is referred to as being a 10 mgRaeq source, we know that the exposure
rate at 1 cm is:
= x A x (1/r)2
2
= 8.25 Rcm /mghr x 10 mgRaeq x (1/1cm)2 = 82.5 R/hr at 1 cm

13) What is the exposure rate to a point 9 cm away from a 10 mgRaeq source?
= x A x (1/r)2
= 8.25 Rcm2/mghr x 10 mgRaeq x (1/9cm)2 = 1.02 R/hr at 9 cm

14) If the 10 mgRaeq source from previous example is a Cs-137 tube, we can calculate how
many mCi that source represents.
A = mgRaeq x Ra/Iso
A = 10mgRaeq x (8.25 Rcm2/mghr/3.28 Rcm2/mCihr)
A = 25.2 mCi

15) What is the exposure rate at 80 cm for a 7,000 Ci Co-60 source with 15% filtration?
= x A x (1/r)2
= 13.07 Rcm /mCihr x (1/80cm)2 x 7,000 Ci x 1000mCi/1Ci x 0.85 = 12,151 R/hr
-OR- 12,151R/hr x 1hr/60min = 202.5 R/min
2

16) An implant using 60 cm of Ir-192 wire at 0.76 mgRaeq/cm represents how many mCi of
Ir-192?
60 cm x 0.76 mgRaeq/cm = 45.6 mgRaeq total
Exposure Rate constant for Ir-192 = 4.69 Rcm2/mCihr
A = mgRaeq x Ra/Iso
A = 45.6 mgRaeq x (8.25 Rcm2/mghr/4.69 Rcm2/mCihr)
A = 80.2 mCi

17) What is the exposure rate at 100 cm for a 9000 Ci Cobalt-60 source with 10% filtration?
= 12.9 Rcm2/mCihr x 9,000 Ci x 1000 mCi/1Ci x (1/100cm)2 x .90
= 10,449 R/hr -OR = 10,449R/hr x 1hr/60min = 174.2 R/hr

18) What is the exposure rate at 20 cm for a 2,500 Ci Cesium-137 source with 7% filtration?
The exposure rate constant for Cs-137 is 3.28 Rcm2/mCihr.
= x A x (1/r)2
= 3.28 Rcm2/mCihr x 2,500 Ci x 1,000 mCi/1 Ci x (1/20cm)2 x 0.93
= 19,065 R/hr

19) What is the exposure rate at 1 cm from a 25 mgRaeq source? What is the exposure rate
from this source at 5 cm?
= x A x (1/r)2
1cm: = 8.25 Rcm2/mghr x 25mgRaeq x (1/1cm)2 = 206.3 R/hr
5cm: = 8.25 Rcm2/mghr x 25mgRaeq x (1/5cm)2 = 8.25 R/hr
Hint: On this problem you dont need to convert to mCi since you have activity in terms of
mgRaeq you can just use the exposure rate constant for Ra-226!

20) What is the exposure rate at 50 cm for a 5,000 Ci Cs-137 source with 5% filtration?
= x A x (1/r)2
= 3.28 Rcm /mCihr x 5,000 Ci x 1,000mCi/1Ci x (1/50cm)2 x .95
= 6,232 R/hr
2

Air Kerma Rate

You can convert exposure rate to Air Kerma rate, using the Roentgen to cGy conversion factor
(0.876 cGy/R):
8.25R/hr x 0.876 cGy/R = 7.227 cGy/hr
Lets convert to micro-Gray (Gy)/hr:
7.227 cGy/hr x 10 mGy/1cGy x 1000 Gy/1mGy = 72,270 Gy/hr at 1 cm
To convert to Air Kerma rate at 1 meter means using the inverse square law:
(1m/100cm)2 x 72,270 Gycm2/hr = 7.227 Gym2/hr
So, the exposure rate expressed in reference air kerma rate is:
7.227 Gy/hr @ 1 meter -OR- 7.227 Gym2/hr

21) The total reference air kerma is the sum of the products of the reference air kerma rate
and the duration of the application of each source. If we consider the problem where we
used 80.2 mCi of Ir-192 and say the implant was left in place for 100 hours, the total dose
would be:
4.69 Rcm2/mCihr x 0.876 cGy/R = 4.108 cGycm2/mCihr
4.108 cGycm2/mCihr x (1m/100cm)2 x 10,000Gy/1cGy = 4.108 Gym2/mCihr
Thus, 80.2 mCi x 4.108 Gym2/mCihr = 329.5 Gy/hr @ 1 meter
And for 100 hours of implant time, total reference air kerma:
329.5 Gy/hr @ 1m x 100 hours = 32,950 Gy @ 1m

22) What is the dose rate 1 cm from a 15 mgRaeq source? What is the dose rate from this
source at 10cm?
1cm: 15mgRaeq x 8.25 Rcm2/mghr x (1/1cm)2 x 0.876 cGy/R = 108.4 cGy/hr
10cm: 15mgRaeq x 8.25 Rcm2/mghr x (1/10cm)2 x 0.876 cGy/R = 1.08 cGy/hr

23) At a point 7.5 cm from a source, the exposure rate is 2.53 R/hr. What is the mgRaeq of
the source? If this source is Cs-137, how many mCi does this represent?
2.53 R/hr x (7.5cm/1)2 = 142.31 Rcm2/hr
142.31 Rcm2/hr /8.25 Rcm2/mghr = 17.25 mgRaeq
8.25 Rcm2/mghr / 3.28 Rcm2/mCihr x 17.25 mg = 43.39 mCi of Cs

24) At a point 10 cm from a source, the dose rate is 1.4 R/hr. What is the mgRaeq of this
source? If this source is Ir-192, how many mCi does this represent?
1.4 R/hr x (10cm/1)2 = 140 Rcm2/hr
140 Rcm2/hr /8.25 Rcm2/mghr = 16.97 mgRaeq
2
8.25 Rcm /mghr / 4.69 Rcm2/mCihr x 16.97 mg = 29.9 mCi of Ir-192

25) A gynecological insertion using 186 mCi of Cs-137 and was left in place for a total of 46
hours. Calculate the dose to a 5 cm distance.
= 186 mCi x 3.28 Rcm2/mCihr x (1/5cm)2 = 24.4 R/hr at 5cm
Air Kerma Rate = 24.4 R/hr x 0.876 cGy/R = 21.4 cGy/hr
Dose = 21.4 cGy/hr x 46 hr = 983.4 cGy

26) What is the dose rate at 2.5cm from a 48.2 mgRaeq point source?
48.2 mgRaeq x 8.25 R/hr@1cm/mgRaeq = 397.65 R/hr @1cm
397.65 x (1/2.5)2 = 63.624 R/hr @2.5cm

27) An Ir-192 implant using 72mCi of Ir-192 was left in place for a total of 95 hrs. Calculate
the total reference air kerma.
4.69 Rcm2/mCihr x 0.876 cGy/R x 72 mCi x 95 hr = 28,102 cGy