Radiopharmaceuticals production and background of the PET/CT & Cyclotron Center, Chiang Mai University

Boonyawan T; Wimolwattanasarn K; Phumruamjai J; Kalyanamitra K; Ekmahachai M; Phongsri J

Authors

Boonyawan T PET/CT & Cyclotron Center, Center for Medical Excellence, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Wimolwattanasarn K PET/CT & Cyclotron Center, Center for Medical Excellence, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Phumruamjai J PET/CT & Cyclotron Center, Center for Medical Excellence, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thaiand
Kalyanamitra K PET/CT & Cyclotron Center, Center for Medical Excellence, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Ekmahachai M Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Phongsri J AWB Company Limited, Thailand

Keywords:

PET radionuclide production, PET radiopharmaceutical production, regional cyclotron facility in Thailand

Abstract

Positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) technology has become the gold standard for diagnosis in oncologic studies by imaging the distribution of radiopharmaceuticals which can reveal biological processes in the human body using radiopharmaceuticals produced by the cyclotron. In Thailand, although a cyclotron facility has existed in the capital city since 2005, it was not widely used by other regions of the country. The PET/CT & Cyclotron Center, Chiang Mai University became the first regional cyclotron center with high capacity for producing various PET radiopharmaceuticals including fluorine-18, carbon-11, nitrogen-13, oxygen-15 and iodine-124 in 2013. This study presents a background of the facility together with an overview of the radiopharmaceutical production processes for clinical and research studies in the field of oncology, cardiology and neurology.

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