Nursing mothers having a nuclear medicine procedure are counselled regarding breastfeeding
Risks of radiopharmaceuticals for breastfed infants
- When a breastfeeding woman undergoes a nuclear medicine procedure, there is potential for the infant to be exposed to radiation through both the intake of milk and external exposure from close proximity to the mother1,2.
- The radiation exposure to the infant varies by the radiopharmaceutical and dose administered for the procedure1,2.
- With few exceptions, less than 10% of the administered dose is excreted in the breast milk1
- Typical estimates range from 0.3% to 5% injected dose1
Precautions for breastfeeding mothers
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- The breastfeeding status of female patients of child-bearing age is established prior to undertaking any procedure.
- Breastfeeding should be interrupted for the time radioactivity is known to appear in breast milk.
- Recommendations for interruption of breastfeeding for nuclear medicine procedures have been published, with the recommended duration of interruption based on reducing the maximum dose to a newborn infant to less than 1 mSv2,3
- In most cases, no interruption in breastfeeding is required to maintain a radiation dose below 1 mSv to the infant2,4
.
- Brief interruption (hours to days) is advised for4,5:
- 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin
- 99mTc-pertechnetate
- 99mTc-red blood cells
- 99mTc-white blood cells
- 201TI-Thallous chloride
- Complete cessation is required for mothers undergoing procedures with2,4:
- 67Ga-citrate
- 123I-MIBG
- 123I- NaI
- 131I-NaI
- Breastfeeding should be stopped prior to administration to decrease radiation dose to the breast6-8:
- 2 weeks for 67Ga-citrate
- 6 weeks for 131I-NaI
- In addition, women undergoing procedures that employ 99mTc MIBI, 99mTc labeled RBCs and 131I (greater than 111 MBq) are advised to limit close contact with an infant to 5 hours within the first 24 hours post procedure5.
- This applies whether or not the mother is breastfeeding
- In situations where interruption is not required, and where a patient is anxious about radiation exposure, the Nuclear Medicine Technologist may advise her to feed the infant with formula or previously expressed breast milk for one feeding following administration of the radiopharmaceutical9.
Related Posts
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Patients are educated regarding the safety of breastfeeding specific to the procedure they are undergoing
References
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Stabin MG, Breitz HB. Breast milk excretion of radiopharmaceuticals: mechanisms, findings, and radiation dosimetry. J Nucl Med 2000;41(5):863-873.
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International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP). Radiation Dose to Patients from Radiopharmaceuticals – Addendum 3 to ICRP Publication 53. Ann ICRP 2008;38(1-2).
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Radiopharmacy, Inc. Breastfeeding guidelines. Radiopharmacy.com. Updated date: June 2016. Available from:
http://www.radiopharmacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/rpi_breastfeeding_guidelines.pdf. [Accessed 28 May 2018] -
Siegel JA. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulation of Nuclear Medicine. Guide for Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine. 2002. Available from: http://www.nrc.gov/materials/miau/miau-reg-initiatives/guide_2002.pdf. [Accessed 24 May 2018]
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University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Breastfeeding guidelines following radiopharmaceutical administration. Available from: http://nuclearpharmacy.uams.edu/resources/breastfeeding.asp. [Accessed 21 Feb 2013]