68Ga-DOTATATE is prepared from a generator system rather than a cyclotron. Which statement about this generator is correct?
- A The parent radionuclide is yttrium-86 with a half-life of 14 hours
- B The parent radionuclide is germanium-68, which has a half-life of approximately 271 days, allowing years of use ✓
- C The generator must be replaced every 24 hours because of rapid parent decay
- D The generator produces fluorine-18 directly for on-site labelling
Correct answer: B. The parent radionuclide is germanium-68, which has a half-life of approximately 271 days, allowing years of use
Explanation
Gallium-68 is eluted from a germanium-68/gallium-68 generator. Germanium-68 decays by electron capture with a half-life of about 271 days, so a single generator serves for roughly a year, making receptor PET feasible in centres without a cyclotron. This logistical advantage drove the spread of DOTATATE and PSMA imaging. Yttrium-86 is a different research emitter, replacement intervals are far longer than a day, and fluorine-18 requires cyclotron production, not generator elution.
Reference: Grainger and Allison's Diagnostic Radiology, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.