Radiation safety of outpatient 177Lu-octreotate radiopeptide therapy of neuroendocrine tumors.

PURPOSE

To demonstrate the safety of outpatient 7.8 GBq (177)Lu-DOTA-tyr(3)-octreotate radiopeptide therapy of neuroendocrine tumors by measurement of radiation exposures of hospital personnel, carers and members of the public.

METHODS

Seventy-six patients with progressive, metastatic neuroendocrine tumors each received four cycles of prescribed activity of 7.8 GBq (177)Lu-octreotate at 8-week intervals, as an outpatient procedure. Cohorts comprising four patients were treated in one room, each patient remaining in hospital until radiation exposure from them was below the release limit of 25 μSv h(-1) at 1 m. On occasion, a single patient was treated in a single room. Radiation exposures of hospital staff and patient carers were monitored by personal dosimeter, and nearby areas monitored with a survey meter.

RESULTS

Mean whole-body radiation exposures per therapy day ranged from 8 μSv (physicist) to 33 μSv (nurse), with exposures to personnel, carers and members of the public well within the limits recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Patients excreted a mean of 46 % of the total administered activity of (177)Lu-octreotate within 4 h of therapy.

CONCLUSION

Lutetium-177-octreotate radiopeptide therapy of neuroendocrine tumors can be safely performed as an outpatient treatment.