gallium citrate

The Uses of gallium citrate

Gallium is likewise very sensitive in detecting and locating infections and inflammatory foci (interstitial lung disease, chronic hepatitis, pulmonary disease, sarcoidosis, osteomyelitis, etc.). This application is extremely important in the management of immunocompromised cancer patients. Because AIDS patients frequently present minimal symptomatology, radionuclide imaging, with its ability to survey the entire body, is especially valuable, and also in labeled leukocyte scintigraphy. Image interpretation should be tempered by full knowledge of the patient’s clinical condition, anatomic alterations due to prior surgery, and correct timing of image acquisition. Early imaging at 4–6 h is useful in the detection of gastrointestinal infections, whereas 24 h imaging is useful in the evaluation of chest infections. Although ⁶⁷Ga is a nonspecific agent, the identification of the etiology of the inflammationmay be improved by appropriate clinical and laboratory information as well as by correlation with other imaging modalities such as sonography and computerized X-ray tomography (CT). High-dose (10mCi) ⁶⁷Ga single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging with image coregistration is important for accurate uptake localization.

Production Methods

Gallium-67 citrate is one of the most useful radiopharmaceuticals in detecting tumors, staging the extent of the disease, and monitoring response to treatment and distinguishing recurrent disease from posttreatment changes.

Carcinogenicity

Carcinogenesis. Gallium is capable of altering several cellular defense mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis.