JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE 6:473-480, 1965 A Simple Method of Producing 18FFluoride for the Study of Bone Disease'

Because of the affinity of fluoride ion for bone—especially diseased bone—a suitable radioisotope of fluorine may prove a useful tool for the study of meta bolic bone disease, localized osseous lesions, and dental conditions, in addition to the study of fluoride metabolism per se. All radioactive isotopes of fluorine have short half-lives. While short lived isotopes are preferable in human studies from the standpoint of radiation dosage, methods of production involving extensive manipulation to render them sterile, pyrogen free and carrier free are rather impractical because of the time factor. The only radioactive isotope of fluorine useful for the investigative purposes outlined is 18F, with a half-life of 112 minutes (1). Since it is a positron emitter, the resultant annthilation radiation is suitable for detection by the usual gamma detecting instruments, while the short half-life permits the employment of rela tively high quantities with safety. We describe herein a rapid simple method for the production of sterile, pyrogen free, carrier free 18F fluoride, almost immediately available for intra venous administration without extensive manipulation, and discuss its possible applications to the study of osseous disease in man. METHOD Quartz ampules containing approximately 2 ml water enriched with 11.2% 180 were sealed, autoclaved, and stored until used. As needed, they were proc essed in the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research 50 Kilowatt Thermal Water Boiler Reactor. 18F, as the fluoride, is produced by the reaction: iSO (p, n) ‘8F the proton source being generated in the water during the thermalization of fast fission neutrons. Irradiation times of approximately 150 minutes, allowin