Draft guidelines regarding appropriate use of (131)I-MIBG radiotherapy for neuroendocrine tumors : Guideline Drafting Committee for Radiotherapy with (131)I-MIBG, Committee for Nuclear Oncology and Immunology, The Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine.

Since the 1980s when clinical therapeutic trials were initiated, (131)I-MIBG radiotherapy has been used in foreign countries for unresectable neuroendocrine tumors including malignant pheochromocytomas and neuroblastomas. In Japan, (131)I-MIBG radiotherapy has not been approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; however, personally imported (131)I-MIBG is now available for therapeutic purposes in a limited number of institutions. These updated draft guidelines aim to provide useful information concerning (131)I-MIBG radiotherapy, to help prevent side effects and protect physicians, nurses, other health care professionals, patients and their families from radiation exposure. The committee has also provided appendices on topics such as practical guidance for attending physicians, patient management, and referring physicians.