한국 핵의학 기술의 현황

The first clinical use of radioactive material in Korea started 32 years ago in June, 1959 when a patient with hyperthyroidism was sucessfully trea- ted ``with radioactive iodine. In April of following year, 1960 , the first nuclear medicine laboratory was installed at the Seoul N ational University Hospital. Since then, the seoul National Universi- ty ‘ Hospital has played a pioneering and pivotal role in the field of Korean nuclear`` medicine. Subsequently, the four provincial national univer- hospital were installed various kinds of sophi- scated nuclear medicine laboratory equipment. The Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine(KSNM) was organized in 1961, and the Korean Journal of N uclear Medicine published its first issue in 1967. The Korean Association of N uclear Medicine Technology was organized in 1977. After then, the active studies using radioisotope and the vigor- ous interchanges of information with foreign coun- tries had increased so steadily and remarkably that could hold the third Asia and Oceania Congre- of N uclear Medicine in 1984. The medical institutes dealing with radionuclide began to increase rapidly from the late 1970 ’s by the help of the outstanding economic growth and the increasing interests in nuclear medicine and there are 106 medical institutes through out as of 1990. In the case of in vivo study during 5 years from 1986 to 1990, 27.5% is liver scan and bone scan comes next (22.5%) then thyroid, renal, heart scan were followed. But nowadays SPECT for brain and heart is increasing. The distribution of the medical use of in vitro study was hepatitis Ag and Ab series (35.0%) is on the top of the list , and thyroid hormone assay (30.2%) , the other hormo- ne assay (l8.8%) , tumor Ag or marker assay (l4. 0%) and allergen test (2.0%) followed. The studies on medical cyclotron and positron emission tomography(PET) are rapidly progressi- ng as we lI as J apan in the western countries. In 1986 , medical cyclotron was instalIed at Korea Cancer Center Hospital , but we cannot availabel PET at present. The continuous development of nuclear medicine is more and more expected and demand. So we should do our best to develop and produce the domestic radionuclide and radiophar maceuticals in order to use them at any time wewant.