title: Continuous low-dose-rate radiation of radionuclide phosphorus-32 for hemangiomas.
abstract: The study goal was to clarify the therapeutic effect and the absorbed dose of radionuclide phosphorus-32 for skin hemangiomas and the consequent risk of side effects in these patients. Phosphorus-32 is an β emitter and is used for skin hemangioma treatment. In comparison with the few Gy per minute of the linear accelerators, the dose rate of phosphorus-32 for hemangiomas is much <1 Gy/hour; so, the latter is called low-dose-rate radiation. To achieve the therapeutic dose, continuous hours or days of radiation is necessary. For strawberry hemangiomas, the phosphorus-32 applicator was tightly placed on the lesion site for several hours until reaching therapeutic dose. The absorbed dose was estimated by radiochromic films. The absorbed dose of phosphorus-32 irradiation declined exponentially with a depth from 0 to 2.5 mm. Of the 316 patients with strawberry hemangiomas, the lesion disappeared completely within 3 months after one-time treatment in 259 cases (82%). For cavernous hemangiomas, 370KBq phosphorus-32 colloid was injected into the hemangioma each square centimeter, and the absorbed radiation was estimated by theoretical calculation. Forty-two of the 58 patients with cavernous hemangiomas (72%) had lesions that completely disappeared within 3 months after receiving one to six treatments. Thus, the phosphorus-32 for strawberry hemangiomas and the chromium phosphate-32 colloid for cavernous hemangiomas were clearly efficacious.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Chang-Bei
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jian-Rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jian-Lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wei-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jing-Lan
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017608:Chromium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017608:Chromium Compounds; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes