PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Santos, João A.M.
AU  - Dias, Anabela G.
AU  - Bastos, Artur L.
TI  - Characterization of Geometric Uncertainties of a Dose Calibrator During Measurement of <sup>90</sup>Y Activity
AID  - 10.2967/jnmt.110.077404
DP  - 2011 Jun 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
PG  - 125--130
VI  - 39
IP  - 2
4099  - http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/39/2/125.short
4100  - http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/39/2/125.full
SO  - J. Nucl. Med. Technol.2011 Jun 01; 39
AB  - The performance and measurement of 90Y with a dose calibrator has always been a key point of several international recommendations, specifically in the case of the radiopharmaceutical 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan, among other applications, used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The objective of the present work was to examine in detail some important sources of geometric errors that, if neglected, can lead to an increase in uncertainty about the measured activity of this β− emitter radionuclide. Methods: A CRC-15R dose calibrator was used to measure and quantify some of these sources, although the same methodology can easily be applied to any other similar equipment. The depth response along the main axis of the dose calibrator was carefully characterized, as well as syringe volume effects and source angular dependence. Results: It was found that, if not taken properly into account, these issues can contribute to an increase in the activity uncertainty (e.g., 5.1% in the present example). This finding implies the possibility of easily reaching higher values than the internationally suggested 5% uncertainty in activity measurement for therapeutic purposes. Conclusion: These errors can be greatly reduced by previous characterization of the dose calibrator and careful implementation of the methodology for measurement.