Radiation Safety of Current European Practices of Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine: Survey Results from 20 HERCA Countries

Purpose: New radiotherapies in nuclear medicine have been introduced in Europe during recent years. Moreover, radiation safety of therapeutic nuclear medicine should be in line with the latest European Council Directive on Basic Safety Standards (BSSD) (2013/59/Euratom). The purpose of this study was to acquire up-to-date information on nuclear medicine treatments in Europe and on the implementation of the requirements of the BSSD in HERCA (Heads of the European Radiological protection Competent Authorities) member states. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was distributed to competent authorities of 32 HERCA member states. The questionnaire addressed 33 explicitly considered treatments including 13 different radionuclides, and for each treatment, a similar set of questions was included. Questions covered the use of treatments, hospitalization of patients and waste management related to therapeutic nuclear medicine involving other radionuclides than 131 I, justification of treatments, individual treatment planning, involvement of a medical physics expert (MPE) and radiation protection instructions related to release of the patient.Results: Responses were obtained from 20 HERCA countries. All countries used 131 I-NaI for benign thyroid diseases and thyroid ablation of adults. 223 RaCl2 (Xofigo®) for bone metastases, 177 Lusomatostatin analogues for neuroendocrine tumors and 177 Lu-PSMA for castration resistant prostate cancer (PC) and PC-metastases were used in 90%, 65% and 55% of countries respectively. Only a few countries had treatment specific criteria for hospitalization and waste management for new treatments. Requirements for justification of new therapies were in place in almost all countries. Individual treatment planning was required for all therapies in 55% and for some therapies in 28% of the responding countries. Implementation of the requirement for MPEs to be closely involved in nuclear medicine practices varied to a great extend among countries. Almost all countries answered that some radiation protection instructions existed for patients released after other than 131 I treatment, however in a very few countries had specific guidelines been developed.Conclusions: There is a wide variation in therapeutic use of nuclear medicine across Europe, but there is an increasing tendency towards these types of treatments. Furthermore, the implementation of the BSSD on the involvement of MPEs and individual treatment planning including dosimetry differs from country to country. Requirements on justification are in place.

Chelators and metal complex stability for radiopharmaceutical applications

Diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine relies heavily on radiometal nuclides. The most widely used and well-known radionuclide is technetium-99m (99mTc), which has dominated diagnostic nuclear medicine since the advent of the 99Mo/99mTc generator in the 1960s. Since that time, many more radiometals have been developed and incorporated into potential radiopharmaceuticals. One critical aspect of radiometal-containing radiopharmaceuticals is their stability under in vivo conditions. The chelator that is coordinated to the radiometal is a key factor in determining radiometal complex stability. The chelators that have shown the most promise and are under investigation in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals over the last 5 years are discussed in this review.

Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine in Eastern Province, KSA

In nuclear medicine, radiopharmaceuticals are administered to the patient either for the production of diagnostic images or with the intention to treat using the emitted radiation from the radiopharmaceutical. The increased use of PET-imaging causes a need for new planning of radiation protection. In radionuclide therapy, the activities are higher and the radionuclides used are often different from those used in diagnostic nuclear medicine and constitute a greater radiation protection problem. In both diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine, the patient becomes a source of radiation not only for him/herself but also for staff, caregivers and the general public. All categories of staff members involved in nuclear medicine must have good knowledge of radiation protection. This is vital for patient safety as well as for the staff's own security, for caregivers and the general public.

Therapeutic Radiometals: Worldwide Scientific Literature Trend Analysis (2008–2018)

Academic journals have published a large number of papers in the therapeutic nuclear medicine (NM) research field in the last 10 years. Despite this, a literature analysis has never before been made to point out the research interest in therapeutic radionuclides (RNs). For this reason, the present study aims specifically to analyze the research output on therapeutic radiometals from 2008 to 2018, with intent to quantify and identify global trends in scientific literature and emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of this research field. The data search targeted conventional (131I, 90Y, 177Lu, 188Re, 186Re, 153Sm, 89Sr, 186Er) and emergent (67Cu, 47Sc, 223Ra, 166Ho, 161Tb, 149Tb, 212Pb/212Bi, 225Ac, 213Bi, 211At, 117mSn) RNs. Starting from this time frame, authors have analyzed and interpreted this scientific trend quantitatively first, and qualitatively after.

188Rhenium Generator – A Breakthrough in Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine

<p>Abstract not available</p><p>Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 19(2): 87-88, July 2016</p>