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

• Published in: Journal of biomedical physics and engineering 2019-08, Vol.9 (4), p.409
• Main Authors: M U, Zaman, N, Fatima, S U, Mehdi, M, Sami, Kh, Khan, G, Khan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2251-7200; 2251-7200

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 FDG-based PET/CT clinical imaging. We are sharing our experience of BG-75 in the first year (December 2015-November 2016) after commissioning. 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 [ F]F-, an automated card-based radiochemistry module to produce FDG and automated QC module to perform tests upon each batch of FDG. Data were collected for yields of [ F]F-, FDG, QC and radiation safety parameters. 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 [ F]F- and FDG, 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. BG-75 Generator provides safe, dependable and sustainable supply of F-Fluoride for FDG 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 Dose-on-Demand workflow offers a new concept of Personalized Dose Preparation which is currently not possible with a conventional cyclotron.