Rhenium-188 Hydroxyethane 1,1-Diphosphonic Acid (HEDP) for Bone Pain Palliation Using BARC-HEDP Kits versus Pars-HEDP Kits: A Comparison on Preparation and Performance Aspects at Hospital Radiopharmacy.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Rhenium-188 hydroxyethane 1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) is a clinically established radiopharmaceutical for palliation of bone pain due to osseous metastases. Recently, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) had developed a freeze-dried kit for the preparation of rhenium-188 HEDP. The present study compares the radiochemistry aspects of indigenous BARC-HEDP kits with commercially available HEDP kits from Pars Isotope Company, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Freeze-dried HEDP kits were obtained from Radiopharmaceuticals Division, BARC, and Pars Isotope Company, Iran. Following recommended procedures, rhenium-188 HEDP was prepared using freeze-dried kits from both sources using freshly eluted rhenium-188 sodium perrhenate obtained from a commercial tungsten-188/rhenium-188 generator. RESULTS: Both kits could be used for the preparation of rhenium-188 HEDP in >95% radiochemical purity (RCP). Rhenium-188 HEDP prepared from both kits showed comparable in vitro stability as well as pharmacokinetic properties. The normal bone-to-soft tissue ratio observed for rhenium-188 HEDP prepared using BARC-HEDP kit and Pars-HEDP kit was 1.993 and 1.416, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both HEDP kits provided a user-friendly solution for the preparation of rhenium-188 HEDP. While Pars-HEDP-kit permits the addition of only 2 mL of rhenium-188 perrhenate solution per kit vial, BARC-HEDP-kit allows up to 5 mL. This feature permits the preparation of patient dose of rhenium-188 HEDP even with older generators providing rhenium-188 perrhenate having a low radioactive concentration (activity/mL). In addition, availability of an indigenous product is always preferable over imported options.

18F-FDG PET/CT findings in voltage-gated potassium channel limbic encephalitis.

Limbic encephalitis (LE) can be associated with cancer, viral infection, or be idiopathic. One such rare but treatable form is associated with voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) antibodies. Typical abnormalities are seen in FDG PET/CT. We report a 39-year-old female patient who presented with 3 months of progressive faciobrachial dystonic seizures and limbic encephalitis. Her serum and cerebrospinal fluid Lgi1 antibody titers were elevated. FDG PET/CT showed basal ganglial hypermetabolism and associated abnormalities. Serial MRI demonstrated atrophic changes predominantly involving the temporal lobes. She is on immunosuppressive therapy and shows clinical improvement with lowering of antibody titers.