Techniques for using Bexxar for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

This article briefly describes the concept of radioimmunotherapy and treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by a new radiopharmaceutical that uses this technique. The rationale for such an approach is reviewed, and some of the practical consequences for technologists are examined. These include the idea of performing individually customized dosimetry and using relatively high (131)I doses on an outpatient basis. After reading this article, the nuclear medicine technologist should be able to (a) describe radioimmunotherapy and its advantages, (b) explain why treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is enhanced by this technique, (c) understand the role of the predose study and its use in determining the therapeutic dose, and (d) recognize the radiation safety issues involved with the therapeutic dose administration and patient release criteria.