Re: Radiation Synovectomy

["DAVID" <DAVID@dcsmserver.med.sc.edu>]

> One of our physicians has posed a question. 
> Radiation Synovectomy is the intracavitary use of isotopes 
> in the knee or other joints for therapeutic reasons. The
> Nuclear Medicine textbook I have available describes this
> as a routine clinical procedure, using colloidal gold-198.
> 
> Better isotopes for this therapy exist, specifically P-32 
> and Y-90. The question is, what is the regulatory status
> of the use of these isotopes for radiation synovectomy. 
> Does the FDA consider this to be approved for routine use, and
> if so, who markets the radiopharmaceuticals?
> 
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REPLY
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A more important question would be:  What is the cliniical efficacy 
of the procedure using any of these radiopharmaceuticals?  

I doubt there is any.


David Adcock, MD, MPH
University of South Carolina