About the cyclotron facility
BC Cancer operates a cyclotron and radiopharmacy at its Vancouver site. Health Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) license this facility. It produces radiotracers for clinical care and research as part of the provincial Molecular Imaging and Therapy program.
A cyclotron is a machine that produces short-lived radioactive isotopes for medical imaging and research.
It works by speeding up particles (such as hydrogen atoms) and directing them at a target material. The reaction creates a specific radioactive element. Scientists carefully choose both the particles and the target to produce the desired isotope.
|
BC Cancer's ACSI TR-19 Production Cyclotron
|
BC Cancer uses an ACSI TR-19 cyclotron. For details, visit the
Advanced Cyclotron Systems Inc. website.
After the cyclotron creates radioactive material, staff move it into a shielded 'hot cell'. There, they use specialized chemistry equipment to turn it into biological tracers.
Doctors use these tracers in medical imaging to diagnose and manage disease more accurately.
The main isotope produced is fluorine-18 (F-18). It is used to create fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), which shows how the body uses glucose.
F-18 releases positrons, which allow PET (positron emission tomography) scans. PET scans are widely used to diagnose cancer and plan treatment.
|
One of BC Cancer's PET/CT Scanners
|
|
BC Cancer also produces other isotopes, including:
- Zirconium-89 (Zr-89) for imaging studies
- Nitrogen-13 (N-13) as a by-product
| | |
Isotope
N-13 | Half-life
10 minutes | 1 hour
2% | 3 hours
0%
| 1 day
0% | 3 days
0% | 1 month
0%
|
| F-18 | 110 minutes | 69%
| 32%
| 0% | 0%
| 0%
|
| Zr-89 | 3.3 days | 99% | 97% | 81% | 53% | 0% |
Cyclotrons produce radiation, so they must meet strict safety rules set by the CNSC.
The CNSC has reviewed and approved the entire Vancouver facility, including its safety systems. The facility uses multiple layers of shielding, protection and monitoring to keep staff and the public safe.
For more information, visit the
CNSC website.
- The cyclotron sits inside a 'vault' with walls, ceiling and doors about 4 feet thick
- The facility uses special concrete and lead shielding to block radiation
- Staff work with radioactive materials inside shielded 'hot cells' or behind protective barriers
- The facility uses over 30 radiation detectors connected to a central computer
- Staff use handheld radiation meters throughout the site
- Exit monitors check that no radioactive material leaves the facility
- Staff and visitors wear dosimeters to track radiation exposure
The facility has a unique containment system that safely holds radioactive gases until they are no longer radioactive. If the system detects radioactive gas, it redirects and contains it automatically.
