What is the range in water for F-18 isotopes?

The range of F-18 isotopes in water is approximately 2.4 mm. This is significant in the context of PET imaging because it influences the spatial resolution and the design of PET detectors.

F-18 is a commonly used radioactive isotope in PET because of its favorable half-life and the positrons it emits. When the positrons emitted from F-18 collide with electrons in the surrounding matter, they annihilate, producing gamma rays. The distance that these positrons travel through water before annihilation is important for understanding how much information can be gathered from the resulting imaging, as it helps define the expected behavior of radiation in clinical settings.

An understanding of the range helps in establishing parameters for correct image acquisition and analysis, ensuring that the data collected reflects true anatomical and physiological processes without excessive noise or artifacts from stray positron emissions.