Extra Credit Problems

Instructions for Extra Credit Problems: Some multiple choice answers are included with
these problems. The answers are randomized in the Quiz section so be sure to select the
correct answer NOT the letter the answer corresponds to on these problems.

1. Convert the following:

a. .50mCi Ir-192 to mgRaeq
b. .50mCi Au-198 to mgRaeq
c. .50mg Radium eq. to mCi of I-125

2. In order to perform a 4000 mg-hr implant using 100 iridium seeds, what should the
mgRaeq per seed be if the total implant time is to be 5 days?

3. Calculate the total millicurie hours for a 40 seed I-125 permanent prostate implant, at
initial 0.5mCi per seed?

4. An I-125 seed implant delivers an initial dose rate of 10 cGy/hr. What is the total dose
delivered to the implant site (in cGy)?

5. The initial activity of an isotope is 10 mCi with a half-life of 60 days. Calculate the
isotopes activity after 30 days.

6. The measured dose rate @ 2 meters from an isotope is 250 mrem/hr. If an individual
stands 6 meters from the isotope for 2 hours, what exposure will the person receive?

7. Prior to the release from the hospital, a patient who has just completed radiation with a
temporary radioactive implant, the NRC requires which of the following:
a. All patient care personnel dosimeters must be read and any unusual exposures
explained
b. The institutions RSO must certify that correct procedures were followed
involving care of the patient
c. A radiation survey must be performed of the patient and a physical count of the
radioactive sources must be completed to confirm all source were removed

8. An I-125 seed has an activity of .48mCi apparent on the date of calibration. Seven days
later the activity will be:
a. .92mCi
b. .52mCi
c. .44mCi
d. .04mCi

9. The exposure rate @ 1m from 100 mgRaeq of Cs-137 is:

a. 8.25 R/hr
b. 8.25 mR/hr
c. 82.5 mR/hr
d. .825 R/hr

10. A permanent implant is performed using an isotope of half-life 60 days. If the initial dose
rate at a peripheral point is 7.7 cGy/hr, the total dose delivered to that point will be:
a. 18,000 cGy
b. 16,000 cGy
 c. 11,100 cGy
d. 7,770 cGy

11. A vaginal cylinder is loaded with 20-15-20 mgRaeq sources of Cs-137. What is the total
number of mCi of Cs-137? [Exposure rate constant Cs-137 = 3.26 R.cm2/mCi.hr @
1cm]
a. 21.7
b. 55.0
c. 139.2
d. 352.2

12. The half-life of I-125 is 60 days. In 6 months the activity will be _____ its original value.
a. 1/2 of
b. 1/8 of
c. 5% of
d. 1/64 of

13. The approximate dose delivered by a single Ir-192 seed of activity 0.5 mgRaeq in 24 hrs
to tissue 2 cm from the seed is:
a. 384 cGy
b. 96 cGy
c. 48 cGy
d. 24 cGy

14. A patient has an interstitial Ir-192 implant. The dose rate is found to be 50 mrem/hr
@1m. A nurse taking care of the patient has her head @25 cm from the implant for 6
minutes. The dose to her eyes would be:
a. 200 mrem
b. 80 mrem
c. 50 mrem
d. 20 mrem

15. I-125 seeds are ordered for a prostate implant. The procedure is then delayed for one
week, but the same seeds are implanted. The change in the actual dose delivered to the
prescription isodose is:
a. 16%
b. 8%
c. 4%
d. 2%

16. A Cs-137 source had an activity of 30 mgRaeq in September 1989. What is the activity in
mCi in March 1994?
a. 59
b. 68
c. 74
d. 86

17. The exposure rate 4 meters from a patient containing 60 mgRaeq filtered with 0.5mmPt is
about ______ mR/hr. Consider the applicator to be a point source and that the patient
absorbs about 30% of the radiation.
a. 1
b. 2
 c. 3
d. 4.5

18. The anisotropy correction is used in I-125 brachytherapy calculations to account for the:
a. Self absorption in adjacent seeds placed end-to-end
b. Decay of I-125 seeds between the dates of calibration and implantation
c. Changes in dose rate at a given distance around the seed due to self absorption
along the seed axis
d. Conversion from units of Bq to Air Kerma Rate

19. The number of Bq in one Ci is:

a. 3.7 GB q
b. 3.7 x 107
c. 3.7 x 1010
d. 3.7 x 10-10

20. Compared to 1mg Radium, 1 mgRaeq of Ir-192 has:

a. The same mass
b. The same activity
c. The same exposure rate @ 1cm
d. The same number of atoms

21. The exposure rate constant for Co-60 is approximately 4 x greater than the exposure rate
constant for Cs-137, although the gamma energy is only twice as high. This is because:
a. Co-60 has more energetic beta rays
b. Lower energy Cs-137 photons are more likely to be absorbed by photoelectric
process
c. Co-60 has a lower atomic number (z)
d. Co-60 emits two photons per disintegration, whereas Cs-137 emits one
22. Match the radioactive source with the approximate decay rate:
a. < 1% per year
b. 2.3% per year
c. 1% per month
d. 1% per day

I. Radium-226
II. Co-60
III. Cs-137
IV. Ir-192

23. The NRC requires which of the following QA measures for brachytherapy sources?
1. Quarterly inventory
2. a log showing the location of all sealed sources removed from the safe
3. annual training in radiation safety for all personnel who care for
brachytherapy patients
4. a leak-test of all sealed sources every 2 years

a. 1, 2, 3
b. 1, 3
c. 2, 4
d. 4 only
e. All of the above

24. Safety precautions that should be taken for patients undergoing gynecological implant
therapy are all of the following except:
a. Implant patients may be placed with no more than one other patient in the same
room
b. A caution radiation sign should be posted on the patients door
c. The dose rates in the room and in areas around the patients room should be
measured
d. A note should be placed in the chart and on the door stating how long a visitor can
stay in the room

25. Implantation of the tongue by Ir-192 seeds results in less exposure to the radiotherapist
than a Radium needle implant because:
a. Ir-192 has lower energy gammas than Radium
b. Of the difference in the exposure-rate constants
c. Ir-192 is an afterloading procedure
d. Ir-192 has no radioactive daughters

26. After loading an Ir-192 implant, it is discovered that the sources were each 0.5 mgRaeq,
instead of 0.5 mCi as intended. The consequence is:
a. The dose rate in the patient will be higher
b. The dose rate in the patient will be lower
c. The dose rate will be the same, as mgRaeq = mCi for this isotope
27. The following are advantages of using Cs-137 sources over Radium sources except:
a. Lower maximum photon energy
b. Smaller HVL in Pb
c. Shorter half-life
d. Less exposure to personnel
e. Less hazardous if broken

28. I-125 has two advantages over Ir-192 as a source for afterloaded implants:
1. it costs less
2. it has a longer half-life
3. it poses less of a radiation safety hazard
4. the dose falls off more quickly outside the treatment volume
a. 1,2
b. 1,3
c. 2,3
d. 2,4
e. 3,4

29. The NRC requires that LDR brachytherapy dose calculations are checked:
a. Before any sources are inserted
b. Before the sources are removed
c. Before 10% of the dose has been delivered
d. Before 50% of the dose has been delivered

30. The NRC defines a therapy misadministration (current term Medical Event) as:
1. treatment of the first fraction with a verbal prescription only
2. no check of calculations by an independent method or person
3. dose differing from the prescription by more than 50% in one fraction
4. dose differing from the prescription by more than 10% at completion of
treatment
a. 1,2,3
b. 1,3
c. 2,4
d. 3 only
e. All of the above
31. Pd-103 is favored over I-125 for prostate implants in patients with a higher Gleason score
due to palladiums:
a. Shorter half-life
b. Superior dose distribution
c. Longer time to deliver 90% of the total dose
d. All of the above

32. The average life of a radioisotope is:

a. Used to calculate the total dose delivered by a permanent seed implant
b. Equal to 1.44/half-life
c. Used to calculate the dose rate mid-way through a temporary insertion
d. Also called the decay constant
e. All of the above

33. A radium source _____________ with its daughters.

a. Is in transient equilibrium
b. Is in secular equilibrium
c. Never achieves equilibrium

34. The NRC requires that sealed radioactive sources be leak tested:
a. Initially (when received)
b. Initially then monthly
c. Initially then every 6 months
d. Initially then annually
e. Annually