Activity standardization, photon emission probabilities and half-life measurements of (177)Lu

Activity standardisation of 177Lu

177Lu decays through low-energy β-- and γ-emissions in addition to conversion and Auger electrons. To support the use of this radiopharmaceutical in Switzerland, a 177Lu solution was standardised using the β-γ coincidence technique, as well as the TDCR method. The solution had no 177mLu impurity. Primary coincidence measurements, with plastic scintillators for beta detection, were carried out using both analogue and digital electronics. TDCR measurements using only defocusing were also made. Monte Carlo calculations were used to compute the detection efficiency. The coincidence measurements with both analogue and digital electronics are compatible within one standard uncertainty, but they are lower than (and discrepant with) the TDCR measurements. An ampoule of this solution was submitted to the BIPM as a contribution to the Système International de Référence.

Status of the decay data for medical radionuclides: existing and potential diagnostic γ emitters, diagnostic β+ emitters and therapeutic radioisotopes

Recommended half-lives and specific well-defined emission energies and absolute emission probabilities are important input parameters that should be well-defined to assist in ensuring the diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of individual radionuclides when applied in the field of nuclear medicine. Bearing in mind the nature of these requirements, approximately one hundred radionuclides have been considered and re-assessed as to whether their decay data are either adequately quantified, or require further in-depth measurements to improve their existing status and merit full re-evaluations of their decay schemes. The primary aim of such a review is to provide sufficient information on the existing and future requirements for such atomic and nuclear data.

(177)Lu: DDEP Evaluation of the decay scheme for an emerging radiopharmaceutical

A new decay scheme evaluation using the DDEP methodology for (177)Lu is presented. Recently measured half-life measurements have been incorporated, as well as newly available γ-ray emission probabilities. For the first time, a thorough investigation has been made of the γ-ray multipolarities. The complete data tables and detailed evaluator comments are available through the DDEP website.