Automated fluorine radiolabelling moves closer to the clinic

New technique could improve tumour diagnosis and treatment

A new automated fluorine-18 labelling procedure could make this useful radioisotope easier to use in medical imaging. 

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine technique that provides a non-invasive way to diagnose and design treatment for tumours. The technique monitors how positron-emitting radionuclides bound to biological targeting molecules accumulate in the body. The radionuclide accumulates in cancerous tissue, and its concentration provides both qualitative and quantitative information about the tumour. Read more.