SURFACE APPLICATORS AND INTERSTITIAL IMPLANTATIONS WITH RADIOACTIVE IRIDIUM 192

1. Radioactive iridium 192 is a better SUMMARY material than Au¹⁹⁸ for surface applicators using intermittent applications over a period of 2-6 days.

2. The activity per applicator is about 50 per cent as compared to that with Au¹⁹⁸ for a given case.

3. The dose to personnel is as low as 13 mr/hr. at 50 cm. from the surface of the applicator containing about 8 mc Ir¹⁹². This dose could be further reduced to negligible proportions by a lead shield of 2-3 mm. In the case of radium the dose would be much higher and a larger thickness of lead sheet would be required for a comparable reduction in dose at 50 cm.

4. While loading the applicator with Ir¹⁹², the protection required is reduced nearly to one-third of that required for radium.

5. The distribution rules given in Table IIIA-D are more convenient for use by the clinician in terms of effort and time.

6. For the interstitial application of Ir¹⁹², special apparatus, like the gold grain gun, is not essential.

7. Hospitalization of the patient can be minimized.

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