Personalized 18FDG Dose Synthesis Using BG-75 Generator: 1st Year Experience at JCI Accredited Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

• Main Authors: Zaman M. U., Fatima N., Mehdi S. U., Sami M., Khan Kh., Khan G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2019
• Subjects: Cyclotron ● Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ● Fluorodeoxyglucose 18F; Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine; R895-920; sami
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/890b8136e11047328d5212ab84f17bee

Background: Compact cyclotrons are getting popular to fulfill enormous current demands of PET tracers. Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan has acquired the first smallest footprint of BG-75 Generator for 18FDG-based PET/CT clinical imaging. We are sharing our experience of BG-75 in the first year (December 2015-November 2016) after commissioning. Material and Methods: BG-75 Generator (ABT, USA) was installed in available space without major design modification. It has a self-shielded mini-cyclotron (7.5 MeV proton beam, positive ion with current < 5µA) to produce [18F]F-, an automated card-based radiochemistry module to produce 18FDG and automated QC module to perform tests upon each batch of 18FDG. Data were collected for yields of [18F]F-, 18FDG, QC and radiation safety parameters. Results: Total 545 runs in 167 days (3±01 runs/day) were made. Average yield with 60 minute bombardment using 4.5 µA current was 37 mCi and 21 mCi for [18F] F- and 18FDG, respectively. Total 29 runs had chemistry or QC failures and were discarded. Remaining 516 batches were used to perform imaging upon 1370 patients (8±03 patients/day). Radiation dose in BG-75 suite and effective doses to 02 operators were within statutory limits. Conclusion: BG-75 Generator provides safe, dependable and sustainable supply of 18F-Fluoride for 18FDG and other low-volume clinical PET imaging. Its compactness and automation need minimal space and manpower. Radiation dose rate in cyclotron suite and personal dosimetry were also found within safe limits. Its Doseon-Demand workflow offers a new concept of Personalized Dose Preparation which is currently not possible with a conventional cyclotron. Citation: Zaman M. U, Fatima N, Mehdi S. U, Sami M, Khan Kh, Khan G. Personalized 18FDG Dose Synthesis Using BG-75 Generator: 1st Year Experience at JCI Accredited Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan. J Biomed Phys Eng. 2019;9(4):409-416. https://doi.org/10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.792