Radiation Safety Considerations in the Treatment of Canine Skeletal Conditions Using 153Sm, 90Y, and 117mSn.

The treatment of pets, service animals, and pre-clinical research subjects with radionuclides raises concern for the safety of the people who interact with the animals after their treatment. Three treatments of skeletal conditions in dogs are considered in this study: Sm-1,4,7,10-tetraazacylcododecanetetramethylenephosphonic acid, which is a bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical; unencapsulated Y permanent interstitial implants, which are sometimes called "liquid brachytherapy"; and Sn radiosynoviorthesis, which is also called radiosynovectomy. External exposure rate readings of the Sm and Sn treatments, and Monte Carlo simulations of Sn at a distance of 1 m and of all three in direct contact with tissue were analyzed for doses.

Intraarticular injection of a Tin-117 m radiosynoviorthesis agent in normal canine elbows causes no adverse effects.

This longitudinal prospective exploratory study used serial measurements in five dogs to evaluate safety and retention of a tin-117 m ( Sn) colloid after intra-articular injection in normal elbow joints. Each dog was deemed healthy based on physical examination, laboratory results, and radiographic evaluation of both elbows. While anesthetized, each received an MRI of both elbows, followed by fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans of both elbow joints and associated lymph nodes.