Why an Offline Nuclear Reactor Led to Thousands of Hospital Appointments Being Canceled

Radioisotopes, particularly molybdenum-99, are crucial for patient imaging but face supply chain issues leading to significant cancellations of hospital appointments and tests.

The recent molybdenum-99 shortage has had direct consequences on patient care, with thousands of appointments canceled, particularly in the UK and Netherlands.

Only a few sites produce molybdenum-99, specifically six major commercial producers, making the supply susceptible to disruptions, as seen with the recent reactor issue.

Medical imaging using technetium-99m derived from molybdenum-99 is generally safe, offering insights into organ functionality rather than just structural imaging.

Read at WIRED