Radiopharmaceutical Uptake in Semen

["LEE COLLINS" <NLCO@imag.wh.su.edu.au>]

G'day all,

I have an odd question maybe someone can help out with.

We have had a patient who wished to place a sperm sample in storage 
for future use prior to undergoing chemotherapy. He had had a gallium 
scan at some (unknown) stage prior to the sample being collected.

It was later noticed that the sample was emitting radiation "at a 
rate of 10,000cpm". Because the sample (now stored in liquid 
nitrogen) is obviously valuable to the donor, I am unlikely to be 
able to go much further into this particular case. The IVF 
group would however like a comment on potential gamete damage.

Does anyone have any knowledge of seminal fluid/sperm uptake of 
radionuclides used in nuclear medicine? This would include 
radiopharmaceuticals used in bone, gated heart, thallium etc. 
studies. 

To avoid clogging up the system, you could reply directly to me at :

nlco@imag.wh.su.edu.au

Many thanks

Lee Collins

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Lee Collins
Medical Physics Dept.
Westmead Hospital
Westmead   NSW  2145  Australia

Phone : +61 2 845 6533
Fax   : +61 2 891 5385
email : nlco@imag.wh.su.edu.au
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