Fluorine-18 for routine FDG PET-CT production is most commonly generated by which method?
- A Neutron activation of stable fluorine-19 in a reactor
- B Proton irradiation of oxygen-18 enriched water in a medical cyclotron ✓
- C Elution from a molybdenum-99 generator column
- D Fission of uranium-235 targets followed by chemical separation
Correct answer: B. Proton irradiation of oxygen-18 enriched water in a medical cyclotron
Explanation
Fluorine-18 is produced in a cyclotron by bombarding enriched oxygen-18 water with 10 to 18 MeV protons via the 18O(p,n)18F reaction, giving no-carrier-added fluoride suitable for nucleophilic substitution on the FDG precursor. It cannot be generator-produced, which distinguishes it from technetium-99m and gallium-68. Reactor neutron activation and uranium fission are routes for other radionuclides such as iodine-131 and molybdenum-99, not fluorine-18.
Reference: Physics in Nuclear Medicine (Cherry, Sorenson, Phelps), 4th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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