Prevalence of Adverse Events to Radiopharmaceuticals from 2007 to 2011

We studied the changing patterns of radiopharmaceutical use and the incidence of adverse events (AEs) to PET radiopharmaceuticals, non-PET radiopharmaceuticals, and adjunctive nonradioactive pharmaceuticals in nuclear medicine from 2007 to 2011. Methods: Fifteen academic institutions submitted quarterly reports of radiopharmaceutical use and AEs covering 2007-2011. Results: 1,024,177 radiopharmaceutical administrations were monitored: 207,281 diagnostic PET, 803,696 diagnostic non-PET, and 13,200 therapeutic. In addition, 112,830 adjunctive nonradioactive pharmaceutical administrations were monitored. The annual use of bone scintigraphy and radiotracer therapies was unchanged. PET radiopharmaceutical use increased from 17% to 26% of diagnostic procedures (P < 0.01). The incidence of radiopharmaceutical AEs was 2.1/10(5) administrations, with no hospitalizations or deaths. Conclusion: From 2007 to 2011, PET studies increased, and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical use and bone scintigraphy were unchanged. Over 2 decades, the incidence of AEs has remained stable at 2.1-2.3/10(5) dosages.