Recommended administered activities for (68)Ga-labelled peptides in paediatric nuclear medicine

The aim of this study was to establish a method for determining administered activities for (68)Ga-labelled peptides. Dose calculations were based on the weight-independent effective dose model proposed by the EANM paediatric dosage card for use in paediatric nuclear medicine.

Previously published time-integrated activity coefficients for (68)Ga-DOTATATE, (68)Ga-DOTATOC and (68)Ga-pentixafor were used to calculate age-independent effective doses. Consequently, the corresponding weight-dependent effective dose coefficients were rescaled according to the formalism of the EANM dosage card to determine the radiopharmaceutical class of  (68)Ga-labelled peptides ("multiples") and to calculate the baseline activities based on an upper limit for administered activity (185 MBq) in an adult.

All calculated normalization factors suggest that the (68)Ga-labelled peptides are class "B" radiopharmaceuticals. The baseline activity for all compounds is 12.8 MBq. In analogy to (18)F-fluoride, we recommend a minimum activity of 14 MBq.

For paediatric nuclear medicine applications involving (68)Ga-labelled peptides, we suggest determining administered activities based on the formalism proposed in this work. The corresponding effective doses from these procedures will remain age-independent.