STRONTIUM THERAPY FOR OSSEOUS METASTASES

INDICATIONS:

1. Palliation of painful multiple osseous metastases resistant to chemotherapy, hormonal therapy. and/or analgesics.
2. Treatment of painful bone metastases in conjunction with, or instead of radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

PATIENT PREPARATION:

1. Obtain a recent complete blood count - low white blood cell, red blood cell, or platelet counts are a relative contraindications.
2. Documentation of bony metastases (bone scan).
3. The nuclear medicine physician will explain the expected benefits and possible complications.
4. The nuclear medicine physician obtains written informed consent.

RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL:

Sr-89 as strontium chloride.Dose: 40 µCi per kg I.V. slow infusion.

SCANNING TIME:

No scan is performed. Patient interview and injection take about 30 minutes.

FOLLOW-UP:

The patient usually returns to the care of his/her referring physician.

If pain reoccurs, the patient may be retreated in approximately 3 months.

The patient's blood count should be followed carefully. The nadir of platelet depression in most patients is found between 12 and 16 weeks following administration of Sr-89.