Relationship between orally administered dose, surface emission rate for gamma radiation, and urine radioactivity in radioiodine-treated hyperthyroid cats

Objective - To determine the relationship between surface emission rate of gamma radiation and urine concentration of I¹³¹ (urine radioactivity) during the period 7 to 21 days after oral or SC administration of I¹³¹ to hyperthyroid cats. Animals - 47 hyperthyroid cats administered I¹³¹ PO and 24 hyperthyroid cats administered I¹³¹ SC. Procedure - A dose of I¹³¹ (1.78 to 2.04 × 10² MBq [4.8 to 5.5 mCi]) was administered orally. Surface emission at the skin adjacent to the thyroid gland on days 7, 10, 14, 18, and 21 and number of counts/30 s in a urine sample (1 mL, obtained via cystocentesis) on days 7, 14, and 21 after oral administration were measured. Effective half-life (T_1/2E) was derived for each point. Surface emission thresholds for maximum urine radioactivity values were established. A dose of I¹³¹ (1.48 × 10² MBq [4.0 mCi]) was administered SC. Urine radioactivity and surface emission rates for SC administration were compared with values for oral administration. Results - The T_1/2E for surface emissions and urine radioactivity progressively increased toward values for physical T_1/2 over time. The T_1/2E for surface emissions was 2.19 to 4.70 days, and T_1/2E for urine radioactivity was 2.16 to 3.67 days. Surface emission rates had a clinically useful threshold relationship to maximum urine concentrations of I¹³¹. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - Surface emission rates for cats administered I¹³¹ appeared useful in determining upper limits (threshold) of urine radioactivity and are a valid method to assess the time at which cats can be discharged after I¹³¹ administration.