Estimation of dose absorbed fraction for 131I-beta rays in rat thyroid.

The dose absorbed fraction of rat thyroid by internal deposit of 131I has been calculated as a function of effective diameter of thyroid. The calculations were done using two types of Monte Carlo simulations: one was by a simple energy-loss calculation in spherical volume according to the electron stopping power, and another by a more realistic simulation using Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport code system Version 4A (MCNP). These two calculations were consistent with each other within a deviation of 5%. The absorbed fractions in spherical thyroid were drastically changed up to 5 mm diameter, and then almost all energy was deposited within 10 mm diameter. For the practical application to the animal experiment, the absorbed fractions of ellipsoid-shaped thyroids were also calculated for 1-, 4- and 9-week-old rats, where the fractions were estimated to be 0.61, 0.67 and 0.68, respectively. It was also found that the absorbed fraction of the ellipsoid with various dimensions can be simulated by a calculation for spherical volume with a comparable effective diameter.