Preparation of Rhenium-188-Lipiodol Using Freeze-Dried Kits for Transarterial Radioembolization: An Overview and Experience in a Hospital Radiopharmacy.

Background: Rhenium-188(188Re)-lipiodol is a clinically effective, economically viable radiopharmaceutical for Selective Internal Radiation Therapy of liver cancer. Present study evaluates the performance of three freeze-dried kits with respect to the radiochemistry, quality control, and overall "ease of preparation" aspects in a hospital radiopharmacy. Materials and Methods: Freeze-dried kits of acetylated 4-hexadecyl-4,7-diaza-1,10-decanedithiol (AHDD), super six sulfur (SSS), and diethyl dithiocarbamate (DEDC), obtained commercially or received as gift, were used for the preparation of 188Re-lipiodol using freshly eluted 188Re-sodium perrhenate from commercial Tungsten-188/188Re generator following recommended procedures. Results: The overall yield of 188Re-lipiodol prepared using AHDD Kit, SSS Kit, and DEDC Kit was 74.82% ± 3.3%, 87.55% ± 4.8%, and 76.38% ± 4.6%, respectively. Observed radiochemical purity (RCP) of 188Re-lipiodol prepared using these kits was 88.65% ± 2.8%, 92.92% ± 3.0%, and 91.38% ± 3.0%, respectively. Using a modified version of the DEDC Kits, overall yield of 87.17% ± 2.7% and RCP of 95.43% ± 2.3% could be achieved. Conclusions: While all three freeze-dried kits can be used for the preparation of 188Re-lipiodol in >70% overall yield, the modified version of DEDC Kits has some advantages in terms of preparation time and volume of Rhenium-188 activity that can be added to the kit vial. The latter feature of the DEDC Kit is particularly useful for patient dose preparation with 188Re activity of low radioactive concentration.

Unusual case of hepatic metastasis in follicular thyroid carcinoma detected using I-131 whole body scintigraphy and single-photon emission computerized tomography/computerized tomography.

Papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas, together known as differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTC), are among the most curable of cancers. Distant metastases are rare events at the onset of DTC. Among these presentations, metastasis to the liver is even more unusual. Only 11 cases of DTC with liver metastasis were previously reported in the literature. We present a 55-year-old male on Iodine-131 whole body scintigraphy showed intense uptake in thyroid bed, metastasis in both lungs and right lobe of the liver. Radioiodine concentration in liver metastases made him amenable to high-dose radioiodine therapy patient.