Answer to Question #12110 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Q

If a patient who is breast-feeding her child receives indium-111 (111In) octreotide, should she interrupt breast-feeding for a certain length of time? Also if a patient receives 111In diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) for a colon transit study, should breast-feeding be interrupted?

A

It appears that breast-feeding does not need to be interrupted for either of these radiopharmaceuticals. According to Regulatory Guide 8.39 Release of Patients Administered Radioactive Materials, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission does not require interruption of breast-feeding for 111In octreotide or 111In DTPA. Either these radiopharmaceuticals are not excreted in breast milk, or the activity that is routinely administered is less than the activity that would give a measurable dose of radiation to the infant.

Kelly Classic
Certified Medical Health Physicist

Ask the Experts is posting answers using only SI (the International System of Units) in accordance with international practice. To convert these to traditional units we have prepared a conversion table. You can also view a diagram to help put the radiation information presented in this question and answer in perspective. Explanations of radiation terms can be found here.
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