Medical cyclotron facilities

Medical cyclotrons are used to produce positron emitters, used for PET-imaging, as well as other radioisotopes used in SPECT imaging. The Medical Cyclotron Facility (MCF) consists of cyclotron vault and control room, the radiochemistry and radiopharmaceutical production areas (R and R), Quality Control (QC) laboratory, radioactivity dispensing, packaging and dispatch areas, cold-chemistry laboratory areas, change rooms and personnel radiation surveillance area (such as decontamination area). Medical cyclotron facilities comes under the purview of regulation in accordance with Rule 3 (3) of the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection Rules), 2004 and is regulated as per the relevant safety documents prescribed by the Competent Authority from time to time and in accordance with the Rule. The document provides requirements and guidance on radiological safety of a MCF for production of radioisotopes for use in nuclear medicine. It addresses medical cyclotrons of both types namely self-shielded and bunker type along with the safety requirements of the radiochemistry laboratories associated with the MCF. In addition to this, the document covers regulatory requirements for Types I-III categories of MCF while only broad guidelines are given for Type IV MCF