PRODUCTION OF C-11 LABELED METHIONINE FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES WITH POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPH (PET)

Two years ago PET investigations were started in Hungary for human app lications first of all for tumor diagnostics. After the routine applic ation of F-18-labelled glucose radiopharmaceutical, there was a claim for the production of C-11-labelled methionine amino-acid, too. A synt hesis panel for the automatic production was constructed in the Instit ute of Nuclear Research, in Debrecen. The system was installed on the basis of repeated experiments in order to establish production guideli nes ensuring safety and efficency as well as good reproducibility and analytical purity of this radiopharmaceutical, which will be avaible f irst of all for the investigation of protein-metabolism.