Identifying the Quadramet® Patient
CLINICAL EVALUATION
- Secondary malignant neoplasm of the bone and bone marrow (ICD9 code 198.5)
- Patient is experiencing bone pain that is not adequately controlled
- No spinal cord compression or existing or imminent bone fracture
Positive bone scan in a patient
with breast cancer*
BONE SCAN FINDINGS
- Confirmed osteoblastic metastatic bone lesions that enhance on radionuclide bone scan
LABORATORY FINDINGS
- Physicians should use their clinical judgment in determining appropriate candidates for QUADRAMET, taking into account the patient's specific circumstances and the typical impact of treatment on blood counts
- Consideration should be given to the patient's current clinical and hematologic status and bone marrow response history to treatment with myelotoxic agents
- WBC and platelet counts decrease consistently to nadirs of 40% to 50% of baseline within 3 to 5 weeks - For guidance on appropriate laboratory values, please consult your institution's guidelines or the "Society of Nuclear Medicine Procedure Guideline for Palliative Treatment of Painful Bone Metastases" available here
*Courtesy of Dwight Heron, MD of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
REFERENCES:
- Quadramet (samarium Sm-153 lexidronam injection) prescribing information. September 2003.
- Sartor O, Reid RH, Hoskin PJ, et al. Samarium-153-Lexidronam complex for treatment of painful bone metastases in hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Urology. 2004;63:940-945.
