The international shortage of nuclear isotopes has ended, allowing local hospitals to resume the cardiac exams, cancer scans and other crucial, isotope-required medical tests that had been put on hold in the past few weeks.

“We’re back to full capacity as of last Thursday,” said Bruce Sites, nuclear medical specialist for St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, which, at one point, had to cancel or postpone about 15 percent of isotope scans.

The problem started in mid-November when a Canadian nuclear reactor – the sole supplier for the bulk of the medical isotopes used in North America – was shut down for what was supposed to be five days of routine maintenance.

Doctors use the reactor’s isotopes for medical tests that diagnose heart problems, pinpoint the best spot for a breast cancer biopsy and help determine whether cancer has spread to the bone.

The reactor’s shutdown started causing problems for local hospitals, doctors and patients in December. Some hospitals had to postpone, cancel or look for another test for 60 to 85 percent of patients who would have had tests involving the isotope.

Hospitals were told the reactor may not be up again until early-to-mid January, but it was back online in December.

“We’re very happy,” said Cindy Harradon, director of medical imaging at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. “We’re back to smooth sailing.”

Copy the Story Link