Nuclear medicine therapy clinics: a golden opportunity for direct longitudinal patient care.

p p t n s m a t c t w t e t BACKGROUND The scope of practice within nuclear medicine is predominated by diagnostic imaging using various imaging modalities, such as gamma cameras, SPECT/CT, and PET/CT. The therapeutic aspects of the specialty often constitute a minor role in most clinical practices; however, with the increased use of radioimmunotherapies and the development of other radiotherapies such as Radium 223 (Ra), there is significant poential for growth with regard to herapeutic nuclear medicine. Raiologists and nuclear medicine hysicians possess the appropriate ducation, training, and experience ith the handling and administraion of unsealed sources of radiaion. As such, radiologists and uclear medicine physicians should e prepared to seize this opportuity to actively participate in direct ongitudinal patient care. Examples of current therapies in uclear medicine include sodium odide 131 for thyroid cancer, saarium 153 for the treatment of one pain, and Y ibritumomab tiuxetan for the treatment of lymphoma. Thus far, therapies in nuclear medicine have required a single visit during which a radiopharmaceutical is administered, but this paradigm will change with the introduction of new -particle therapies such as Ra. The therapy will consist of monthly injections of the radiopharmaceutical over a 6-month period of time. Clinical studies in patients with bone metastases from castrateresistant prostate cancer have demonstrated an overall survival benefit