Outcome of 259 patients with primary proliferative polycythaemia (PPP) and idiopathic thrombocythaemia (IT) treated in a regional nuclear medicine department with phosphorus-32 - a 15 year review

259 patients with primary proliferative polycythaemia (PPP) and idiopathic thrombocythaemia (IT) have been treated with P-32 over the last 15 years. Complete follow-up data were obtained in 238 patients. PPP was the diagnosis in 183 patients and 76 patients had IT. The sex ratio in PPP was male/female 1.1:1 and in IT 1:1.4. Patients' ages ranged from 28 to 95 years (median 72 years). The number of P-32 administrations per patient ranged from 1 to 13 (median 2) and the total administered activity per patient ranged from 81.4 to 4162 MBq (median 496 MBq). The outcome showed a normalization of the full blood count in 50% of patients after a single administration of P-32 and in 73% after two treatments. 13 patients (5.5%) developed myelofibrosis; 18 (7.6%) developed leukaemia while other cancers arose in 19 patients (8%). P-32 therapy proved to be of particular value in the elderly. P-32 is easy to administer and is cost effective, compared with the alternative of chemotherapy where good compliance and frequent hospital visits are required.