title: Positron emission tomography: radioisotope and radiopharmaceutical production.
abstract: A Centre for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has been operational within the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre (A&RMC) in Melbourne for seven years. PET is a non-invasive imaging technique based on the use of biologically relevant compounds labelled with short-lived positron-emitting radionuclides such as carbon-11, nitrogen-13, oxygen-15 and fluorine-18. The basic facility consists of a medical cyclotron (10 MeV proton & 5 MeV deuteron), six lead-shielded hotcells with associated radiochemistry facilities, radiopharmacy and a whole body PET scanner. A strong radiolabelling development program, including the production of 15O-oxygen, 15O-carbon monoxide, 15O-carbon dioxide, 15O-water, 13N-ammonia, 18F-FDG, 18F-FMISO, 11C-SCH23390 and 11C-flumazenil has been pursued to support an ambitious clinical and research program in neurology, oncology, cardiology and psychiatry.
authors.affiliation: Centre for PET, Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Tochon-Danguy
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Sachinidis
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: S U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Berlangieri
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D015195:Drug Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011786:Quality Control; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000592:standards; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D005947:Glucose; D010100:Oxygen