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Review
. 2014 Dec;42(4):245-8.
doi: 10.2967/jnmt.114.144642. Epub 2014 Nov 13.

The medical isotope crisis: how we got here and where we are going

Thomas J Ruth  1
Affiliations
Free article
Review

The medical isotope crisis: how we got here and where we are going

Thomas J Ruth. J Nucl Med Technol. 2014 Dec.
Free article

Abstract

(99m)Tc is the most widely used radionuclide in nuclear medicine. The reactor stoppages that occurred in recent years illustrated the vulnerability of the availability of radiotracers for imaging. With many of the reactors due for shutdown over the next 5-10 y, alternative routes to producing the (99)Mo/(99m)Tc pair are being explored. This brief review examines how we have reached this situation and what the near and distant future holds for securing the availability of these radioisotopes.

Keywords: 99Mo; 99mTc; isotope production; nuclear medicine.

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Comment in

  • Medical isotope crisis.
    Currie G. Currie G. J Nucl Med Technol. 2015 Jun;43(2):139. doi: 10.2967/jnmt.115.154583. Epub 2015 Apr 9. J Nucl Med Technol. 2015. PMID: 25857414 No abstract available.
  • Reply: Medical isotope crisis.
    Ruth TJ. Ruth TJ. J Nucl Med Technol. 2015 Jun;43(2):139. doi: 10.2967/jnmt.115.155242. Epub 2015 Apr 9. J Nucl Med Technol. 2015. PMID: 25857419 No abstract available.

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