Quantification of gallium-57 citrate in breast milk

A woman, 6 months postpartum and nursing her child, had a Ga-67 scintigram. A sample of breast milk obtained at day 2 revealed 2.8% of the injected dose (ID) per liter. The percent ID/L was compared with literature values; the highest concentration was in a report of galactorrhea. Similarity of the gallate ion to phosphate, as a possible explanation for accumulation in the breast, was pointed out. An earlier recommendation that a patient given Ga-67 citrate should discontinue breast feeding for at least 2 weeks was re-examined.