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.