Which radiation monitoring device is best suited to survey a patient who has received a high dose of I-131 for therapy?

The portable ionization chamber is well-suited for surveying a patient who has received a high dose of I-131 for therapy due to its ability to provide accurate measurements of high radiation levels. This type of device is specifically designed to measure ionizing radiation exposure in a range of environments, including those with significant radioactive sources.

The portable ionization chamber works by collecting the ion pairs generated by radiation in a gas within the chamber, allowing it to quantify the amount of radiation present. This method is particularly effective for detecting high radiation levels since it is less sensitive to low levels of background radiation that might interfere with measurements when using other devices. The direct measurement capabilities of this chamber make it ideal for clinical settings where precision is required, especially after administering therapeutic doses of radioactive isotopes like I-131, which can emit significant radiation.

In contrast, other types of devices, such as pocket ionization chambers, while handy for personal monitoring due to their small size, are typically limited in their range and accuracy for high radiation fields. Geiger-Mueller counters can also be effective but may not provide the same level of accuracy or dependability in high radiation fields due to their saturation effects at elevated doses. Liquid scintillation counters are primarily used for measuring low levels of