This continuing educational article introduces the radiochemistry of PET tracers that exhibit a covalently bound radiolabel with the nuclides 11C, 13N, and 18F. The overall process of PET tracer production is explained, starting from the production of the radionuclide in a cyclotron; followed by the automatization process of the radiosynthesis, including the necessary steps for the respective synthesis; and finalized with the requirements for quality control.
© 2018 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.