The PET/CT system and the cyclotron shall soon be operational at INMAS. It shall also have an external beam facility which shall make it a unique facility in terms of research in the field of radiation biology. Establishing a PET/CYCLOTRON unit is a potentially expensive venture. Besides adequate financial infrastructure, major considerations that were found very critical include technological viability, Obtaining license and commissioning for production, handling, and distribution of isotopes, and trained human resources. Currently available scanners mostly have detectors in a complete Ring (BGO/LSO/GSO/LYSO). The detector gantry assembly has the advantage of high cont rate capability, optimal detector ring alignment (via gantry tilt), collimator for 2D/3D acquisition and well-integrated computer system. Less commonly used include partial ring rotating tomographs and hybrid SPECT/PET scanners. PET imaging requires mostly cyclotron-produced radioisotopes. Selection of radiochemistry molecules includes considerations of cost, yield, disposable units and operator friendliness. The selection of type of cyclotron (low/medium/high energy) depends on available space, objectives (research/patient care/supply to other centers). Major installation issues which were looked into were shielding configuration, optimum wall thickness of bunker (1.8m), separate TVT values for neutron (28cm) and gamma rays in concrete of density 2500 kg/m3, infrastructure for external beam and solid targeting. Operational issues encountered by us include power supply, maintainence workshop, airconditioning, supply of O15, fire safety measures and isotope transportation facility. Radiation safety aspects looked into by us as 9’’ wall thickness in areas handling positron emitters separate drainage system areas and an overall stringent surveillance program. Thus in this paper the practical experience of setting up a PET/CT system with an external beam facility shall be highlighted.
PET –CT, external beam facility, INMAS
