MDS Nordion has begun making commercial quantities of rhenium 186 (Re-186) and high-specific-activity lutetium 177 (Lu-177). Demand is growing for these radioisotopes for use in research aimed at developing new cancer therapies. Lu-177, a low-energy beta
MDS Nordion has begun making commercial quantities of rhenium 186 (Re-186) and high-specific-activity lutetium 177 (Lu-177). Demand is growing for these radioisotopes for use in research aimed at developing new cancer therapies. Lu-177, a low-energy beta emitter, shows promise against small tumors. It has a relatively long 6.65-day half-life, which allows more sophisticated procedures to be used for its purification and synthesis. The long half-life also makes Lu-177 easier to combine with biologically active compounds. Re-186 is being investigated for a range of radiotherapeutic applications. It is currently being used for pain palliation from cancerous metastases in bones. Both Lu-177 and Re-186 emit gamma radiation that enables imaging.
Stay at the forefront of radiology with the Diagnostic Imaging newsletter, delivering the latest news, clinical insights, and imaging advancements for today’s radiologists.
Study Shows Enhanced Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Stenosis with Photon-Counting CTA
July 10th 2025In a new study comparing standard resolution and ultra-high resolution modes for patients undergoing coronary CTA with photon-counting detector CT, researchers found that segment-level sensitivity and accuracy rates for diagnosing coronary artery stenosis were consistently > 89.6 percent.
FDA Expands Approval of MRI-Guided Ultrasound Treatment for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
July 9th 2025For patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease, the expanded FDA approval of the Exablate Neuro platform allows for the use of MRI-guided focused ultrasound in performing staged bilateral pallidothalamic tractotomy.