Radionuclide Production Aspects of Medical Cyclotrons

The primary purpose of a medical cyclotron is to improve the diagnostic value of Nuclear Medicine through the production of clinical quantities of desirable radionuclides. A medical cyclotron in the 15 MeV to 20 MeV energy range can produce 10 to 100 millicurie quantities of intermediate and short-lived radionuclides. A medical cyclotron in the 25 MeV to 30 MeV energy range can produce curie to multicurie quantities of intermediate and short-lived radionuclides. The considerations for selecting a medical cyclotron used for radionuclide production are radionuclidic purity and production capabilities. The influence of nuclear reactions, particle energy and isotopic enrichment of target material on these considerations is discussed.