ePubs

The open archive for STFC research publications

Full Record Details

Persistent URL http://purl.org/net/epubs/work/12299185
Record Status Checked
Record Id 12299185
Title Future Supply of Medical Radioisotopes for the UK Report 2014
Contributors
Abstract Technetium-99m (99mTc) is the principal radioisotope used in medical diagnostics worldwide. Current estimates are that 99mTc is used in 30 million procedures per year globally and accounts for 80 to 85% of all diagnostic investigations using Nuclear Medicine techniques. Its 6-hour physical half-life and the 140 keV photopeak makes it ideally suited to medical imaging using conventional gamma cameras. 99mTc is derived from its parent element molybdenum-99 (99Mo) that has a physical half-life of 66 hours. At present 99Mo is derived almost exclusively from the fission of uranium-235 targets (using primarily highly-enriched uranium) irradiated in a small number of research nuclear reactors. A global shortage of 99Mo in 2008/09 exposed vulnerabilities in the supply chain of medical radioisotopes. In response, and at the request of member states, the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) assembled a response team and in April 2009 formed a High-Level Group on the security of supply of Medical Radioisotopes (HLG-MR). The HLG-MR terms of reference are: to review the total 99Mo supply chain from uranium procurement for targets to patient delivery; to identify weak points and issues in the supply chain in the short, medium and long-term; to recommend options to address vulnerabilities to help ensure stable and secure supply of radioisotopes. The UK has no research nuclear reactors and relies on the importation of 99Mo and other medical radioisotopes (e.g. Iodine-131) from overseas (excluding PET radioisotopes). The UK is therefore vulnerable not only to global shortages, but to problems with shipping and importation of the products. In this context Professor Erika Denton UK national Clinical Director for Diagnostics requested that the British Nuclear Medicine Society lead a working group with stakeholders including representatives from the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to prepare a report. The group had a first meeting on 10 April 2013 followed by a working group meeting with presentations on 9th September 2013 where the scope of the work required to produce a report was agreed. The objectives of the report are: to describe the status of the use of medical radioisotopes in the UK; to anticipate the potential impact of shortages for the UK; to assess potential alternative avenues of medical radioisotope production for the UK market; and to explore ways of mitigating the impact of medical radioisotopes on patient care pathways. The report incorporates details of a visit to the Cyclotron Facilities at Edmonton, Alberta and at TRIUMF, Vancouver BC in Canada by members of the report team.
Organisation CI , STFC
Keywords
Funding Information
Related Research Object(s):
Licence Information:
Language English (EN)
Type Details URI(s) Local file(s) Year
Report CI Preprints. British Nuclear Medicine Society, 2014. Medical Radioisot…rt December 2014.pdf 2014