Much of nuclear imaging depends on a steady supply of an isotope called molybdenum-99 (Mo-99). A byproduct of nuclear fission, Mo-99 is used to produce another radioactive substance, technetium-99m, which is employed in more than 16 million nuclear imaging procedures every year in the United States alone. These include everything from sentinel node biopsies in cancer surgery to bone scans and cardiac stress tests.
Unfortunately, the supply of Mo-99 and other radioisotopes has been unreliable at best. All of the Mo-99 used in the United States is imported, with the main source being the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor at Chalk River, Ontario, Canada. A shutdown for repairs in May 2009 contributed to a global radioisotope shortage. While the reactor has been back in operation since August 2010, it is scheduled for closure in 2015.
The shortage showcases a critical gap in the supply chain. Although the United States has many domestic reactors that could produce the radioisotopes, they do not have the necessary processing facilities or the capacity to take time away from other projects to produce Mo-99. As a result, new production strategies are desperately needed. For some procedures, there’s simply no alternative, and without a reliable domestic supply of isotopes, nuclear medicine would severely limit doctors’ ability to diagnose and treat many diseases.
Imaging Technology News – March 15, 2011.
Want More Investigative Content?
