Production of iodine-124 and its applications in nuclear medicine

• Published in: Applied radiation and isotopes Vol. 90; pp. 138 - 148
• Main Authors: Braghirolli, Ana Maria S., Waissmann, William, da Silva, Juliana Batista, dos Santos, Gonçalo R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2014
• Subjects: Animals; Humans; Image Enhancement - methods; Iodine Radioisotopes - chemistry; Iodine radiolabeling; Iodine-124; Isotope Labeling - methods; Positron emission tomography (PET); Positron-Emission Tomography - methods; Positron-Emission Tomography - trends; Radionuclide production; Radiopharmaceuticals - chemical synthesis; Radionuclide production; CT; Iodine-124; Positron emission tomography (PET); Iodine radiolabeling; MRI; mAbs; PET; SPECT
• ISSN: 0969-8043; 1872-9800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2014.03.026

Until recently, iodine-124 was not considered to be an attractive isotope for medical applications owing to its complex radioactive decay scheme, which includes several high-energy gamma rays. However, its unique chemical properties, and convenient half-life of 4.2 days indicated it would be only a matter of time for its frequent application to become a reality. The development of new medical imaging techniques, especially improvements in the technology of positron emission tomography (PET), such as the development of new detectors and signal processing electronics, has opened up new prospects for its application. With the increasing use of PET in medical oncology, pharmacokinetics, and drug metabolism, 124I-labeled radiopharmaceuticals are now becoming one of the most useful tools for PET imaging, and owing to the convenient half-life of I-124, they can be used in PET scanners far away from the radionuclide production site. Thus far, the limited availability of this radionuclide has been an impediment to its wider application in clinical use. For example, sodium [124I]-iodide is potentially useful for diagnosis and dosimetry in thyroid disease and [124I]-M-iodobenzylguanidine ([124I]-MIBG) has enormous potential for use in cardiovascular imaging, diagnosis, and dosimetry of malignant diseases such as neuroblastoma, paraganglioma, pheochromocytoma, and carcinoids. However, despite that potential, both are still not widely used. This is a typical scenario of a rising new star among the new PET tracers.
•Improve the discussion and disseminate the knowledge of recent advances in nuclear medicine.•Stimulate the offer of alternative ways using the recent developed positron emitters.•Contribute to democratize the use of radiopharmaceuticals in developing countries.•Promote social benefit, starting a new era in diagnostic imaging in developing countries.