Clinical Explorations of [68Ga] Ga-FAPI-04 and [18F] FDG Dual-Tracer Total-body PET/CT and PET/MR Imaging.

Fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) provide complementary biological information, and FAPI/FDG dual-tracer imaging clinical application is increasing recently. However, optimal protocols for FAPI/FDG dual-tracer positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and PET/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) imaging are still under investigation. Due to its high sensitivity, total-body PET/CT allows for imaging with minimal tracer activity and supports the creation of new dual-tracer PET/CT imaging protocols. PET/MR, with its multiparametric MR imaging, provides additional biological information for diagnosis. Studies have investigated the clinical feasibility of low-activity PET/MR imaging, yielding promising results. As there are still few institutions in the world that have experience with the advances provided by the use of total-body PET/CT and equipped with a PET/MR scanner, we have discussed the clinical explorations to reduce radiation exposure and optimize workflows for [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 and [18F]FDG dual-tracer PET/CT and PET/MR imaging. The review also provides potential new clinical explorations of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 and [18F]FDG dual-tracer total-body PET/CT and PET/MR imaging, including dual-tracer dual-low-activity imaging.

Navigating Diagnostic Challenges: Primary Pulmonary Choriocarcinoma Depicted by Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET/CT).

This report explores a noteworthy case diagnosed with primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma (PPC), a rare and often fatal non-seminomatous germ cell tumor. Initially misdiagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma, this case underscores the diagnostic complexities associated with PPC. A 44-year-old woman initially misdiagnosed with non-small lung cancer underwent unsuccessful chemoradiation. Emergency presentation with gastrointestinal bleeding revealed intestinal intussusception and severe anemia, rendering her ineligible for surgery. A thorough assessment, including fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), uncovered an aggressive neoplastic pattern. A subsequent biopsy confirmed PPC. Ten cycles of chemotherapy (cisplatin and etoposide on day 1, followed by etoposide, methotrexate, and dactinomycin on day 8) were offered. A complete metastatic response and a marked primary tumor reduction were evident at the end of therapy by PET/CT. Our findings underscore the importance of whole-body FDG PET/CT in comprehensively evaluating disease extent, displaying aggressive and atypical patterns, and offering guidance in complicated cases under multidisciplinary settings.

High-Grade Hepatic Spindle Cell Carcinoma as a Cause of Diffuse Right Hepatic Lobe Hypermetabolism Identified With 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) Imaging.

We present a rare case of high-grade spindle cell liver carcinoma investigated using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in a 70-year-old man with worsened clinical symptoms for more than three months. These include hiccups, belching, loss of appetite, and significant weight loss of 30 kg over the last three months. 18F-FDG PET/CT was employed as part of the initial diagnostic assessment, revealing intense diffuse right hepatic lobe hypermetabolism. Fused PET/CT images revealed a locally confined right hepatic lobe tumor exhibiting heterogeneous metabolic activity with predominant hypermetabolism surrounding two internally contained hypometabolic islands. These findings suggested an aggressive and unusual neoplastic pattern. Ultrasound-guided biopsy confirmed high-grade spindle cell sarcoma of the liver. Unfortunately, the patient passed away shortly thereafter, precluding therapeutic decisions.

PET/CT Assessment of Estrogen Receptor positivity for Breast Cancer using [68Ga]Ga-RM2 Bombesin Receptor Antagonist: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

[68Ga]Ga-RM2 is a novel gastrin-releasing peptide receptor antagonist with emerging diagnostic utility in low-grade breast cancer (BC) expressing estrogen receptors (ER). This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the current diagnostic utility of [68Ga]Ga-RM2 PET/CT and explores BC tumor uptake metrics in ER-positive BC lesions. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted using relevant keywords to extract, screen, and select eligible data for analysis. Out of 182 articles reviewed, only four studies were found eligible for inclusion. Qualitative data analysis was applied to four included papers meeting the eligibility criteria. Various promising utilities were identified, including [68Ga]Ga-RM2's ability to detect ER-positive primary BC lesions, lymph nodes, and distant metastatic lesions. Additionally, recent studies have addressed its potential for assessing therapy response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Importantly, [68Ga]Ga-RM2 has demonstrated clinical utility in improving and guiding proper management planning by detecting metastatic lesions that can alter overall staging and treatment strategies. The overall lesion detectability was 93% (95% CI: 87-98%) for ER-positive BC. ER-positive BC lesions showed significantly higher maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) compared to ER-negative lesions, with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of 10.6 (95% CI: 8.1-13.2; P < 0.00001). Furthermore, ER-positive BC lesions exhibited statistically significant higher SUVmax compared to normal background breast tissue SUVmean, with an overall WMD of 9.9 (95% CI: 7.5-12.2; P < 0.00001). Further studies utilizing this promising radiotracer should be encouraged, implementing prospective, large-scale designs in the near future.

An Unusual Case of Oligometastases in a Patient with Renal Cell Carcinoma: Insights from 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a significant cause of mortality worldwide. To date, many atypical metastatic sites have been observed and reported in patients with RCC. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reported cases of thyroid cartilage metastasis in the context of RCC metastasis. Herein, we present the case of a 68-year-old man who developed left arm pain that led to an RCC diagnosis. First, evaluation by pan-computed tomography (CT) denoted right kidney RCC and identified left humeral metastasis. Subsequently, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (18F-FDG PET/CT) was performed after right nephrectomy and left humeral lesion excision and fixation. Interestingly, few intramedullary hypermetabolic lesions were observed in addition to a single intensely hypermetabolic thyroid cartilage lesion indicative of oligometastases. This case underscores the importance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of RCC disease for baseline staging and beyond.

Distinguishing Bronchial Carcinoid from Benign Bronchocele using 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT Imaging.

Bronchial carcinoids are low-grade neuroendocrine tumors with slow growth rates and the potential to spread to nearby lymph nodes. Here we present a challenging case of bronchial carcinoid visualized alongside an adjacent benign bronchocele. Chest computed tomography (CT) identified the endobronchial mass with unclear morphological and diagnostic insights. A differential diagnosis of several benign and malignant etiologies was made. Subsequently, an endobronchial biopsy confirmed lung carcinoid. For better evaluation, a 68Ga-labeled 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetic acid-d-Phe1-Tyr3-octreotide (68Ga-DOTATOC) positron emission tomography/CT scan was performed. The scan revealed a locally confined endobronchial mass with intense 68Ga-DOTATOC expression. Adjacent benign bronchocele was visualized with insignificant 68Ga-DOTATOC expression. Histopathological examination of the resected upper lobe confirmed these findings. This case highlights the importance of somatostatin receptor imaging in accurately identifying the extent of carcinoid tumors in the primary, nodal, and metastatic domains.

Cancer Care in Resource-Limited Countries: Jordan as an Example.

Jordan, a lower- to middle-income country, is relatively small, but with rapidly growing population and a challenged economy. Cancer is a growing health care problem and currently ranked second, after cardiovascular diseases, as a cause of death. Jordan's national cancer registry continues to suffer from problems mostly related to long lag time in reporting, absence of outcome data, and accurate staging. The number of new patients with cancer diagnosed in Jordan is increasing at an expected, none disturbing rate, fueled by population growth, improving life expectancy, changing population structure that hosts more older population, high rate of obesity, smoking, and lack of adequate exercise. However, age-standardized rate for cancer incidence is significantly lower than Western societies, yet, mortality rate is higher. Despite efforts, cancer is still diagnosed at more advanced stages and at younger age. The Jordan breast cancer program represents a great example of opportunistic screening that led to significant downstaging of breast cancer. Efforts to evaluate the feasibility of screening programs for colorectal and lung cancers are underway. Tremendous efforts resulted in the execution of the largest clinical cancer genetics program in the region that helps identify patients and at-risk relatives for hereditary cancers. Low-resourced countries, including Jordan, will not be able to keep up with the rapidly increasing cost of cancer care. A better access to clinical trials and moving cancer care to ambulatory settings should offset some of this cost. A cancer control program that addresses all issues of cancer care from screening and early detection, through active cost-effective treatment that assures wider access to palliative care, hospice, and survivorship programs under an expanded universal health coverage, is an urgent national health priority.

Clinical outcomes and impact of prognostic factors in resectable oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in non-metastatic oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) patients who underwent surgery with or without adjuvant therapy. Methods: From 2007 and 2018, 116 patients were analyzed. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and secondary endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS), local failure (LF), regional failure (RF), and distant metastases (DM). Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test assessed survival outcomes, while Cox proportional hazard tests analyzed prognostic factors. Results: Median patient age was 53 years, most were smokers (93.5%) and males (62.9%). Predominant subsite was the oral tongue (58.6%). Treatment included surgery alone (16.4%), adjuvant radiotherapy (46.6%), or adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) (37%). The median follow-up time was 45.9 months. There were significant differences between groups in terms of gender (P=0.028) and RT dose (P=0.01). The 3-year OS, DFS, LF, RF and DM for the entire cohort were 60.9%, 55.1%, 20.11%, 8.43%, and 17.13%, respectively. Surgery alone yielded higher 3-year OS (81.4%) than adjuvant RT (70%) or adjuvant CCRT (41.4%), (p=0.012). Adjuvant CCRT correlated with higher LF compared to adjuvant RT and surgery alone groups (p=0.029). Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) impacted OS (HR=2.034, p=0.0498) and DM (HR=3.380, p=0.0132), while higher tumor grade increased DM likelihood (HR=8.477, p=0.0379). Conclusions: This study reports OCSCC patient outcomes in Jordan across different treatment modalities. Adjuvant CCRT correlated with higher LF rates, and LVI impacted OS and DM, aligning with existing OCSCC treatment literature.

Radiotherapy and theranostics: a Lancet Oncology Commission.

Following on from the 2015 Lancet Oncology Commission on expanding global access to radiotherapy, Radiotherapy and theranostics: a Lancet Oncology Commission was created to assess the access and availability of radiotherapy to date and to address the important issue of access to the promising field of theranostics at a global level. A marked disparity in the availability of radiotherapy machines between high-income countries and low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) has been identified previously and remains a major problem. The availability of a suitably trained and credentialled workforce has also been highlighted as a major limiting factor to effective implementation of radiotherapy, particularly in LMICs. We investigated initiatives that could mitigate these issues in radiotherapy, such as extended treatment hours, hypofractionation protocols, and new technologies. The broad implementation of hypofractionation techniques compared with conventional radiotherapy in prostate cancer and breast cancer was projected to provide radiotherapy for an additional 2·2 million patients (0·8 million patients with prostate cancer and 1·4 million patients with breast cancer) with existing resources, highlighting the importance of implementing new technologies in LMICs. A global survey undertaken for this Commission revealed that use of radiopharmaceutical therapy-other than 131I-was highly variable in high-income countries and LMICs, with supply chains, workforces, and regulatory issues affecting access and availability. The capacity for radioisotope production was highlighted as a key issue, and training and credentialling of health professionals involved in theranostics is required to ensure equitable access and availability for patient treatment. New initiatives-such as the International Atomic Energy Agency's Rays of Hope programme-and interest by international development banks in investing in radiotherapy should be supported by health-care systems and governments, and extended to accelerate the momentum generated by recognising global disparities in access to radiotherapy. In this Commission, we propose actions and investments that could enhance access to radiotherapy and theranostics worldwide, particularly in LMICs, to realise health and economic benefits and reduce the burden of cancer by accessing these treatments.

Diagnostic Accuracy of [18F]FDG PET/MRI in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis.

This study evaluates the diagnostic utility of PET/MRI for primary, locoregional, and nodal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) through systematic review and metaanalysis. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed and Scopus to identify studies on the diagnostic accuracy of PET/MRI for HNSCC. The search included specific terms and excluded nonhybrid PET/MRI studies, and those with a sample size of fewer than 10 patients were excluded. Results: In total, 15 studies encompassing 638 patients were found addressing the diagnostic test accuracy for PET/MRI within the chosen subject domain. Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx was the most observed HNSCC subtype (n = 198). The metaanalysis included 12 studies, with pooled sensitivity and specificity values of 93% and 95% per patient for primary disease evaluation, 93% and 96% for locoregional evaluation, and 89% and 98% per lesion for nodal disease detection, respectively. An examination of a subset of studies comparing PET/MRI against PET/CT or MRI alone for evaluating nodal and locoregional HNSCC found that PET/MRI may offer slightly higher accuracy than other modalities. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: PET/MRI has excellent potential for identifying primary, locoregional, and nodal HNSCC.

Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma Presenting as a Solitary Fourth Ventricular Mass: A Case Report.

The occurrence of primary fourth ventricular lymphoma is an exceptionally uncommon phenomenon. Here, we present a case of lymphoma in the fourth ventricle in a 30-year-old male who presented with progressive headache and vertigo over the last one month of his presentation. Preoperative MRI revealed a space-occupying lesion of the fourth ventricle. Pathological analysis following complete resection confirmed the lesion as primary central nervous system lymphoma. The patient underwent chemotherapy following the MTR (methotrexate, temozolomide, and rituximab) protocol with four months of uneventful follow-up, indicating no disease recurrence. Therefore, clinicians are advised to consider the potential presence of lymphoma as part of the differential diagnosis for space-occupying lesions, especially when there is a combination of clinical deterioration and rapid imaging progression.

Comprehensive Analysis of Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Real-World Data From the Middle East.

PURPOSE: Metastatic prostate cancer (Pca) is a complex disease with diverse clinical characteristics and outcomes across the geographical distribution. Herein, we present a series of patients from the Middle East, aiming at identifying disease outcomes and prognostic factors specific to this regional context. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This is a retrospective study of patients with metastatic Pca, diagnosed at King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan, between 2006 and 2018. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Factors that significantly affected overall survival (OS) in the univariable analysis were examined in a multivariable Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 188 patients with metastatic Pca were included in this analysis, of whom 168 (89%) had de novo metastatic disease. The median age at diagnosis was 68 years, 144 (77%) had bone metastasis, 32 (17%) had visceral metastasis, and 126 (67%) had high-volume disease. At a median follow-up of 67 months, the median OS was 44.3 months. The following factors predicted inferior OS in univariable analysis: smoking, normal BMI, high-volume disease, high alkaline phosphatase (ALP), previous local therapy for prostate, and orchiectomy versus medical androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). On multivariable analysis, high-volume disease (hazard ratio [HR], 1.92 [95% CI, 1.17 to 3.13]; P = .0094), high ALP (HR, 2.136 [95% CI, 1.38 to 3.31]; P < .001), and orchiectomy (HR, 2.40 [95% CI, 1.51 to 3.82]; P < .001) emerged as independent factors for inferior OS. CONCLUSION: Metastatic Pca outcomes in our population closely align with the global benchmark. High volume status, elevated ALP, and performance of surgical as opposed to medical ADT emerge as prognostic indicators of poor survival.

The prognostic utility of 18F-FDG PET parameters in lymphoma patients under CAR-T-cell therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has attracted considerable attention since its recent endorsement by the Food and Drug Administration, as it has emerged as a promising immunotherapeutic modality within the landscape of oncology. This study explores the prognostic utility of [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([18F]FDG PET) in lymphoma patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy. Through meta-analysis, pooled hazard ratio (HR) values were calculated for specific PET metrics in this context. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Ovid databases were explored to search for relevant topics. Dataset retrieval from inception until March 12, 2024, was carried out. The primary endpoints were impact of specific PET metrics on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) before and after treatment. Data from the studies were extracted for a meta-analysis using Stata 17.0. Results: Out of 27 studies identified for systematic review, 15 met the criteria for meta-analysis. Baseline OS analysis showed that total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) had the highest HR of 2.66 (95% CI: 1.52-4.66), followed by Total-body total lesion glycolysis (TTLG) at 2.45 (95% CI: 0.98-6.08), and maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) at 1.30 (95% CI: 0.77-2.19). TMTV and TTLG were statistically significant (p < 0.0001), whereas SUVmax was not (p = 0.33). For PFS, TMTV again showed the highest HR at 2.65 (95% CI: 1.63-4.30), with TTLG at 2.35 (95% CI: 1.40-3.93), and SUVmax at 1.48 (95% CI: 1.08-2.04), all statistically significant (p ≤ 0.01). The ΔSUVmax was a significant predictor for PFS with an HR of 2.05 (95% CI: 1.13-3.69, p = 0.015). Conclusion: [18F]FDG PET parameters are valuable prognostic tools for predicting outcome of lymphoma patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy.

Peer Review in Radiation Oncology: Where Does the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye Region Stand?

PURPOSE: This study aims to assess the status of radiation oncology peer review procedures across the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT) region. METHODS: A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted among radiotherapy centers in the MENAT region in March 2024. It assessed peer review practices, departmental demographics, perceived importance of peer review, and potential barriers. RESULTS: Data from 177 radiation oncology centers revealed varying peer review implementation across the MENAT region. Egypt had the highest participation (16.4%) among all responders. Most centers (31%) treated 500-1,000 cases annually. The majority (77.4%) implemented peer review, with varying levels between countries and across different centers. Advanced radiotherapy techniques significantly correlated with implementation of peer review (P < .05). Peer review meetings were mostly scheduled on a weekly basis (46%) and organized by radiation oncologists (84.7%). Target volume contouring (89%) and radiotherapy prescription (82%) were frequently peer-reviewed. Respondents with peer review at their institutions significantly valued peer review for education, adherence to guidelines, improving planning protocols, and reducing variation in practice institutions without peer review (P < .05). The most frequently reported barriers to peer review were having a high number of patients (56%) and shortage of time (54%). CONCLUSION: Peer review is essential for improving the quality of practice in radiation oncology. Despite some discrepancies, numerous obstacles, and challenges in implementation, it is instrumental in the improvement of patient care in most centers throughout the region. Raising awareness among radiation oncologists about the importance of peer review is paramount to lead to better outcomes.

A New Era for PET/CT: Applications in Non-Tumorous Renal Pathologies.

Non-tumorous kidney diseases include a variety of conditions affecting both the structure and function of the kidneys, thereby causing a range of health-related problems. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has emerged as a potential diagnostic tool, offering a multifaceted approach to evaluating non-tumorous kidney diseases. Its clinical significance extends beyond its conventional role in cancer imaging, enabling a comprehensive assessment of renal structure and function. This review explores the diverse applications of PET/CT imaging in the evaluation of non-cancerous kidney diseases. It examines PET/CT's role in assessing acute kidney injuries, including acute pyelonephritis and other forms of nephritis, as well as chronic conditions such as immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis and chronic kidney disease. Additionally, the review delves into PET/CT's utility in evaluating complications in renal transplant recipients, identifying renal histiocytosis and detecting renal amyloidosis. The current review aims to promote further research and technological advancements to popularize PET/CT's clinical utility in diagnosing and treating non-tumorous kidney diseases.

Initial clinical experience using 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT for detecting various cancer types.

OBJECTIVE: Numerous studies have shown that gallium-68-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (68Ga-FAPI) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans would yield high intra-tumoral tracer uptake and low uptake in normal tissues as background, thus allowing for excellent visualization of lesions in the cancer microenvironment. This study set out to compare the suitability of novel 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET versus routine fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET and other few cases of 68Ga-DOTATATE/68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for the assessment of different types of cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 11 patients (6 males, 5 females; average age: 53 years, range: 10-58 years) with histopathologically confirmed, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, medullar thyroid cancer (MTC), papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), cervical, gastric, glioblastoma multiform (GBM), colon, Ewing's sarcoma, and breast cancer was performed. These patients underwent PET/CT scans using four different radiotracers (9 18F-FDG, 11 68Ga- FAPI, 3 68Ga-DOTATATE, and 1 68Ga-Pentixafor). The patients' PET/CT images were visually evaluated for cancer detection, and analyzed semi-quantitatively through image- derived metrics, such as target-to-background ratio (TBR) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), for recurrence and metastasis. RESULTS: The study of 11 patients revealed that 68Ga-FAPI-46 was more effective than other tracers for detecting metastases, with 55 vs. 49 metastases in the lymph nodes, 4 vs. 3 in the liver, and 4 vs. 3 in the bones detected in comparison to 18F-FDG. No significant differences were observed in 68Ga-DOTATATE and 68Ga-Pentixafor PET images. In addition, in five patients, the SUVmax and TBR values in 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET images were significantly higher than those in 18F-FDG PET images for lymph nodes and bone metastases. Although the SUVmax in 68Ga-FAPI-46 and 18F-FDG PET images for liver metastases was comparable, 68Ga-FAPI- 46 had a significantly higher TBR than 18F-FDG. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that FAPI PET/CT is not suitable for evaluating GBM and Ewing sarcoma but generally outperforms 18F-FDG PET/CT in various types of breast cancer, gastrointestinal, gynecological, PTC and MTC. However, larger trials are needed to validate these preliminary findings.

A rare presentation of thyroid malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in neurofibromatosis type 1 delineated by FDG PET/CT: A case report and literature review.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are rare, aggressive soft tissue sarcomas that arise from peripheral nerves and often present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. They can occur sporadically or in association with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the NF1 gene. This report presents the unique case of a 33-year-old male with progressive dry cough, hoarseness, and neck swelling who underwent a total thyroidectomy, revealing a high-grade malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor invading the thyroid. FDG PET/CT led to the additional diagnosis of NF1. This case stands out due to the rarity of finding an MPNST within the thyroid and the simultaneous identification of NF1. It underscores the importance of screening MPNST patients for NF1 and vice versa, spotlighting the expanding role of FDG PET/CT in comprehensive evaluations. To our knowledge, this report presents the first case of NF1-associated MPNST with thyroid involvement worldwide.

An Overview of Appropriate Medical Practice and Preparedness in Radiation Emergency Response.

Radiation emergencies involving high doses of nuclear radiation pose significant risks from exposure to ionizing radiation in various scenarios. These situations include transportation accidents involving radioactive materials, occupational exposure, nuclear detonations, dirty bombs, and nuclear power plant accidents. In addition to the immediate risks of acute radiation syndrome (ARS) and related diseases, long-term exposure can increase the risk of other health issues such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and children, face particular concern due to potential impacts on their health and the health of unborn babies. The severity of ARS depends on several factors such as radiation dose, quality, dose rate, exposure uniformity, and individual biological responses. Bioindicators are biological responses or markers that help assess the severity and effects of radiation exposure on an individual. Bioindicators can include physical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, or laboratory tests such as changes in blood cell counts and gene expression that can help in assessing and treating exposed individuals. Additionally, early prodromal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and erythema can provide important clues for diagnosis and treatment. Developing a comprehensive plan for radiation emergencies is vital for safeguarding public health, infrastructure, and the environment. First responders play a critical role in establishing safety perimeters, triage, and coordination with various stakeholders. Education and training are essential for medical personnel and the public. This article provides general recommendations and identifies challenges to effective radiation emergency preparedness and response.