Upgrade of IAEA recommended data of selected nuclear reactions for production of PET and SPECT isotopes

TL;DR

This paper updates and evaluates cross-section data for key radionuclides used in PET and SPECT imaging, providing improved reference data and yields for medical isotope production.

Contribution

It presents new evaluated cross-section data and yields for radionuclides used in medical imaging, incorporating uncertainty analysis and comparison with theoretical models.

Findings

Updated cross-section data for PET and SPECT isotopes.

Estimated uncertainties with a Padé least-squares method.

Available online reference data and yields for medical isotope production.

Abstract

An IAEA research project was dedicated to the compilation, evaluation and recommendation of cross-section data for the accelerator production of $^{11}$C, $^{13}$N, $^{15}$O, $^{18}$F, $^{64}$Cu, and $^{124}$I positron-emitting radionuclides clinically used for PET imaging, and for the accelerator production of two gamma emitters, $^{81}$Rb and $^{123}$I, used in SPECT imaging. Cross sections for 19 charged-particle induced reactions that can be employed for radionuclide accelerator production were evaluated including uncertainties. The resulting reference cross-section data were obtained from Pad\'e fits to selected and corrected experimental data, and integral thick target yields were subsequently deduced. Uncertainties in the fitted results were estimated via a Pad\'e least-squares method with the addition of a 4\% assessed systematic uncertainty to the estimated experimental uncertainty. Experimental data were also compared with theoretical predictions available from the TENDL library. All of the numerical reference cross-section data with their corresponding uncertainties and deduced integral thick target yields are available on-line at the IAEA-NDS medical portal https://www-nds.iaea.org/medportal/ and also at the IAEA-NDS web page https://www-nds.iaea.org/medical/.