Reflections on the therapeutic use of ²²³RaCl₂ for bone metastases resulting from prostate cancer resistant to castration

In January 2014 the Comision Federal para la Proteccion contra Riesgos Sanitarios of the Ministry of Health in Mexico, authorize the use of ²²³RaCl₂ as the first radiopharmaceutical emitter α for therapeutic purposes in cases of bone metastases resulting from prostate cancer resistant to castration. The paper analyzes the main variables that affect the metrological traceability using activity meters to evaluate the gamma activity of ²²³RaCl₂ in hospitals, because it has a chain of complex decay with alpha, beta and gamma emitters, so was important to verify if a gamma activity measurement for a multiple emitter is reliable to determine the total alpha absorbed dose to bone in a patient. (Author)