A schema for estimating absorbed dose to organs following the administration of radionuclides with multiple unstable daughters: A matrix approach

The dosimetry of alpha particle emitters requires that all decays, including those of unstable intermediates be included in the calculation. Such calculations are complicated by the potential differential biologic distribution of each of the intermediates. In this work we present a formalism which will account for the known biodistribution factors of the daughters and the resulting effective biodistribution which will depend upon the site at which the parent radionuclide decays. The number of decays or cumulated activity of a daughter radionuclide present in a particular tissue is estimated using a probability matrix which describes the likelihood of daughter decay in a particular tissue as a function of the decay site of the parent. An example of three initial compartments is provided to illustrate the use of this formalism. Such modeling may be used to evaluate the feasibility of using radionuclides whose decay includes alpha-emitting intermediates. Model validation and refinement will require an assessment of the fate of free, alpha-emitting intermediates in various biological milieus. (C) 1999 American Association of Physicists in Medicine. [S0094-2405(99)01212-2].