gallium-68 citrate

Gallium-68 citrate is a radiopharmaceutical compound consisting of the positron-emitting radioisotope gallium Ga 68 complexed with citrate. Upon intravenous administration, the weakly chelated gallium ion (Ga3+) dissociates and binds to transferrin in the blood, mimicking iron due to similar chemical properties. The resulting Ga3+-transferrin complex accumulates in tissues with increased transferrin receptor expression, such as sites of infection, inflammation, or tumors. This property enables imaging using positron emission tomography (PET), providing high-resolution functional images for diagnostic purposes. Compared to its predecessor gallium-67, gallium‑68 has a much shorter half-life (about 68 minutes), allowing higher tracer doses and rapid patient discharge post-imaging. Clinical applications include detection and assessment of bone and soft tissue infections (including prosthetic joint infections), inflammatory diseases, and certain cancers such as glioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, prostate cancer, Hodgkin’s disease, lung cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, malignant melanoma, and leukemia[1][3][4][5][6][8][10].

Other names

Gallium Ga 68 CitrateGALLIUM GA-68 CITRATEUNII-RD9L8XE13LUNII-RD-9L8XE13LUNII-RD 9L8XE13L