A polycrystalline transparent ceramic article including lutetium is presented. The article includes an oxide with a formula of ABO.sub.3, having type A lattice sites and type B lattice sites. The lattice site A may further comprise a plurality of elements, in addition to lutetium. Type B lattice site includes aluminum. An imaging device, a laser assembly, and a scintillator including the lutetium-based article is provided. A method of making the above article is also provided.