CHAPTER 9: Fluorine in Medicine

In this chapter, the medical applications of fluorine atoms are discussed, focusing on ¹⁸F-labelled positron emission tomography (PET) agents. Various drugs contain fluorine atoms, and recently fluorine has been used for in vivo imaging. Although ¹⁹F magnetic resonance imaging via the stable ¹⁹F isotope is still being researched, ¹⁸F-PET imaging using radioactive ¹⁸F is widely used in clinical examinations. Most of the ¹⁸F-PET agents used for such imaging are manufactured in hospitals using a cyclotron and labelling synthesizer, which is discussed along with the types of test agents available.