Production and separation of thallium-201 suitable for clinical myocardial imaging.

Abstract

SUMMARY Australia's only cyclotron was used to test the feasibility of producing Thallium-201 with adequate purity and in quantities suitable for general clinical application. Maximum beam energy of 26 MeV at 40μ A yielded an achievable production rate of 4mCi per hour thallium-201 (2 patient doses). This could be increased by an order of magnitude if a positive ion source were fitted to the cyclotron but the present radiation shielding would be inadequate for this manoeuvre. The final separated product proved to be compatible in purity with the only other published data and its efficacy as a myocardial imaging agent was successfully demonstrated in animals. Liaison with A.A.E.C. at Lucas Heights has begun with a view to satisfying locally the growing demand for this nuclide.