Recent advances in cyclotron production of medical radioisotopes

The increasing significance of cyclotron produced radioisotopes in diagnostic nuclear medicine, especially in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), has led to several interesting developments in production techniques. The use of highly enriched isotopes as target materials has opened new production routes for several radioisotopes. Experimental work on excitation functions is most essential since statistical and precompound model calculations do not yield data with the desired accuracies. Considerable progress has been made in high current targetry. Solids, liquids and gases can all be used as target materials. Modern and efficient methods of separation of the desired products, and recovery of the target material, have been developed. The use of low energy cyclotrons as production tools demands small-sized, technically sophisticated targets for irradiations. Special attention has been paid in recent years to the quality control (radionuclidic, radiochemical, specific activity etc.) of the radioactive products. A brief review of all these aspects is given and the areas needing further investigations are outlined