The case for a national medical cyclotron
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Date
1984-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australian Atomic Energy Commission
Abstract
It is proposed that a National Medical Cyclotron and associated radioisotope processing facilities be established to provide Australia and the South East Asian and Pacific Regions with the full range of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals vital to the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of medical conditions. Specifically a national medical cyclotron would be used to produce those cyclotron-produced radioisotopes which cannot be imported because of their short half-lives (e.g. carbon-11, nitrogen-13, oxygen-15, fluorine-18, iodine-123, rubidium-81, mercury-195m), and also those of long half-life which are imported at substantial cost (about $0.75 million in 1983) on a rather unreliable basis (e.g. gallium-67, thallium-201, indium-111). These cyclotron-produced radioisotopes (with the exception of iodine-123 to replace iodine-131) are complementary to the range of reactor-produced radioisotopes available from the Australian reactor HIFAR. Where feasible in terms of radioisotope lifetime, the products from the cyclotron would be distributed Australia-wide, and also to the immediate geographical region, using the Australia AEC distribution service already available for reactor-produced products. To take full advantage of the potential medical benefits, the cyclotron would be located in NSW at a major teaching hospital, provisionally the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, but it would be owned and operated by the Australian Atomic Energy Commission. Installation could be completed in 1987/88 at a cost of about $10 million. Funding of $200,000 is sought in 1984/85 for the preparation of detailed plans and specifications.
Description
Keywords
Cyclotrons, Radioisotopes, Radiopharmaceuticals, Half-life, HIFAR Reactor, AAEC
Citation
Smith, R., Hardy C. J. & Boyd, R. E. (1984). The case for a national medical cyclotron (DR 16). Lucas Heights, NSW: Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment.