A vision to increase the availability of PET diagnostics in low- and medium-income countries by combining a low-cost modular J-PET tomograph with the 44Ti/44Sc generator
P. Moskal, Ewa Stępień, A. Khreptak
Abstract
<b>Objectives:</b> This paper presents the prospects for increasing the availability of PET diagnostics by combining low-cost, lightweight and easily portable modular J-PET with the <sup>44</sup>Ti/<sup>44</sup>Sc generator.<br> <b>Methods:</b> J-PET is constructed based on the low-cost axially arranged plastic scintillators that may enable the construction of PET scanners 5 to 10 times less expensive compared to current PET systems, which are based on crystal scintillators. Development of the radionuclide <sup>44</sup>Ti/<sup>44</sup>Sc generator with the 60-year half-lifetime would enable long-term onsite production of <sup>44</sup>Sc labelled radiopharmaceuticals, eliminating the need for extensive and costly infrastructure typically associated with nuclear medicine. Presently applied <sup>68</sup>Ge/<sup>68</sup>Ga generators with the 270 days half-lifetime require renewal every year. The <sup>44</sup>Ti/<sup>44</sup>Sc generator could, in principle, be purchased once every half century.<br> <b>Results:</b> The lightweight and portable J-PET scanner, combined with the <sup>44</sup>Ti/<sup>44</sup>Sc generator, can be deployed in remote and underserved regions, thus democratising access to advanced medical-imaging techniques.<br> <b>Conclusions:</b> This novel concept shows the transformative potential of combining innovative J-PET technology with the <sup>44</sup>Ti/<sup>44</sup>Sc generator to make advanced diagnostics more accessible and affordable worldwide, especially benefiting millions of patients in low- and medium-income countries, and driving further innovations in medical imaging.