RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Risk of Radiation Exposure to Clinical Staff from Paracenteses of Large-Volume Chylous Ascites Following 177Lu-DOTATATE Infusion JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology JO J. Nucl. Med. Technol. FD Society of Nuclear Medicine SP jnmt.121.262820 DO 10.2967/jnmt.121.262820 A1 Sameer Tipnis A1 William J Rieter A1 Vladimir Henderson-Suite A1 Leonie Gordon YR 2021 UL http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/early/2021/12/20/jnmt.121.262820.abstract AB 177Lu-DOTATATE has gained wide clinical acceptance for the treatment of advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors; however, little is known regarding its accumulation in ascites. As such, clinical staff performing paracenteses shortly after a treatment dose may be concerned about their potential radiation exposure, or the risk of contamination. Methods: In this report, therapeutic paracenteses were performed on a patient with metastatic intestinal carcinoid complicated by recurrent chylous ascites at various time intervals following a standard 7.4 GBq dose of 177Lu-DOTATATE. Samples of the fluid were analyzed in a scintillation counter to estimate the concentration of radioactivity. Results: The concentration of activity in the ascitic fluid obtained 3 days after an infusion was exceptionally low (175.3 ± 25.9 Bq/mL). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that paracenteses conducted as soon as 3 days after a standard dose of 177Lu-DOTATATE pose little to no risk in terms of radiation safety to staff performing the procedure.