Purpose:Radionuclide therapies(RNTs)have been proved to be beneficial with respect to tumour response and in improving patients' quality of life.Radiation protection issues have been raised regarding patients' caregivers and public,and restrictions have been proposed and applied to reduce the radiation exposure to these groups.The aim of this study is to systematically review the literature pertaining to radiation exposure of caregivers of patients undergoing RNTs.Methods:This work included studies published from 1999 to 2014.Papers with dose measurements of caregivers for various types of RNTs were included.In these papers,measurements were performed by utilizing various types of dosimeters.Papers with either outpatient administrations or inpatient procedures were included.Data were classified according to the applied RNT protocol.Protocol parameters included the type of RNT,the radionuclide used,the applied protocol of dose measurement,the level of administered radioactivity,the type of dosimeter,the study duration,the study sample and the radiation protection instructions.Results:Twenty papers in total were included in the study.Among them 10 concerned thyroid cancer,4 Β-cell lymphoma,3 thyrotoxicosis(hyperthyroidism),1 both thyroid cancer and thyrotoxicosis,1 pediatric neuroblastoma,and 1 NETs.In the examined papers,the average recorded doses of caregivers were found to be much lower than the corresponding dose constraint.Coclusions:In conclusion,when adequate radiation protection instructions are provided under the supervision and guidance of experts,the dose to the caregivers can be maintained at very low levels.With regard to specifying the appropriate patient discharge strategy and length of possibly required hospitalisation,it is recommended that new criteria,in addition to accounting for the level of residual activity,should be adopted.These criteria should take into account the patients' lifestyle and socioeconomic conditions and their ability to comply with the radiation protection instructions.