The availability of contrast media in the application of Holmium-166-DTPA for vascular brachytherapy.

Since coronary angioplasty using a liquid radiation source is performed with computed tomography(CT) angiography, use of a CT contrast agent is a good alternative to see if the balloon has close contact with the blood vessel wall for the delivery of a sufficient radiation dose to the stenotic artery. In order to examine the usefulness of the CT contrast agent as a diluent of a liquid radiation source, various physicochemical studies and in vivo stability studies using animals were implemented using (166)Ho-DTPA for vascular brachytherapy and a PTCA balloon catheter. For this study, three CT contrast agents, Hexabrix (320)(Rx), Iomeron (350)(Rx) and Visipaque (320)(Rx) were used. Results showed that (166)Ho radiolabeled component of Hexabrix (320)(Rx) and the (166)Ho-complex was proposed to be (166)Ho-EDTA. However, in the case of Iomeron (350)(Rx) and Visipaque (320)(Rx), no other (166)Ho-complex was formed except the desired (166)Ho-DTPA. In the case where (166)Ho-EDTA (>98% radiolabeling yield) was administrated to rabbits, only 10% of the administered dose was excreted through the urinary track 30 min after injection. However, in the animal experiment where Hexabrix (320)(Rx) was added to the (166)Ho-DTPA vial with the volume ratio of 1:1, over 80% of the administrated dose accumulated into the bladder within 30 min after injection. Therefore, Hexabrix (320)(Rx) is applicable when it is used as a diluent of a (166)Ho-based liquid radiation source and its volume is applied in a minimal manner to visualize the balloon catheter. In conclusion, the use of a CT contrast agent in the clinical application of a liquid radiation source has beneficiary effects such as visualization of both the position and shape of the balloon are possible and most importantly, whether or not there is a formation of a void volume of liquid inside the balloon as well as the detection of radiation leakage on a real-time basis, on site during the angioplasty.