Temporary PET items added to address nationwide nuclear scan shortage

Doctors have had to ration all but the most urgent cases
Australia's nuclear reactor. Picture: Supplied
ANSTO’s nuclear reactor. Photo: Supplied

Patients needing urgent diagnostic imaging are being given access to PET scans as the Federal Government responds to the crisis afflicting nuclear medicine.

A mechanical fault at Australia’s nuclear medicine facility at Lucas Heights in Sydney has halted production of the radioisotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), used in about 80% of nuclear scans.