Application of macroautoradiography and instantimage in radiopharmaceutical research

The evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of pure, beta radiopharmaceuticals is not possible with scintigraphy. Both whole-body autoradiography (WBAR) and Packard Instantimager, a device for rapid imaging, were used to study the whole body distribution of γ- and β-emitting radionuclides (^99mTc-MDP, ^99mTc-sulfur colloid, or ¹⁸⁸Re-HEDP), and results obtained from both methods were compared. The biodistribution of ^99mTc-MDP and ¹⁸⁸Re-HEDP were seen mainly in bones including skull, spine, and vertebrae of spine and cardiac and skeletal muscles. The ^99mTc- sulfur colloid localized in liver, bone marrow, and spleen. The resolution of WBAR is superior than that of Packard Instantimager. However, the advantage of Packard Instantimager is that rapid imaging within few minutes is possible with it, while WBAR imaging requires several hours to days.