Groningen Hospital Speeds Up PET Scans

Why this is here: UMCG reduced patient wait times for critical PET scans from months to weeks with a new tracer production method.

The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) in the Netherlands developed a method to perform PET scans more quickly. The hospital previously assisted roughly four to five patients per week with these scans, used to detect Parkinson’s disease and certain tumors. UMCG researchers simplified the production of the radioactive tracer used in PET scans, traditionally a complex and lengthy process.

They switched from a gaseous to a liquid form of fluorine-18, using a catalyst to reduce the number of synthesis steps. This change allows UMCG to potentially scan up to ten patients weekly. The hospital currently produces these tracers in-house using a cyclotron, but hopes to expand access to other hospitals within roughly 100 kilometers, given the tracer’s short lifespan.

While this innovation significantly reduces wait times—from months to weeks—transporting the tracer over longer distances remains a challenge. The team continues to refine the production process and explore wider distribution.