Altered biodistribution of gallium-67 in a patient with aluminum toxicity treated with desferoxamine.

Markedly altered biodistribution of [67Ga]citrate was observed in a 66-yr-old hemodialysis patient imaged at 48 hr postinjection. A review of the patient's hospital records revealed toxic serum levels of aluminum, treated with the chelating agent desferoxamine. Based on what is known about the biologic interactions between gallium, aluminum, transferrin, and desferoxamine, we believe that both toxic serum aluminum levels and desferoxamine therapy may cause altered biodistribution on [67Ga]citrate scintigraphy.