Fluorine-18 Market Report: Size, Share and Outlook by 2031

The Fluorine 18 market is anticipated to grow from US$ 7.50 billion in 2024 to US$ 12.89 billion by 2031; the market is expected to register a CAGR of 8.2% from 2025 to 2031. The fluorine 18 market growth are attributed to the rising prevalence of cancers, increasing pet imaging, technological advancements in PET scanners and imaging systems, and regulatory approvals and development of novel fluorine-18 tracers.

Fluorine-18 (F-18) is a radioactively unstable fluorine isotope that finds major applications as a tracer in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. It facilitates the visualization of the body's metabolic and biochemical activities through imaging, which is very helpful in cancer diagnosis and brain research, among other things..

The fluorine 18 market in North America is segmented into the US, Canada, and Mexico. The North America fluorine 18 market is expanding owing to several factors. The US holds the largest market share, followed by Canada. The demand for fluorine 18 in the region is fueled by the advanced nuclear medicine infrastructure, with approximately 75% of the world's 1,200 cyclotrons concentrated in the US and Canada, and emerging growth in Mexico.

The US dominates the North American Fluorine-18 market, driven by a robust infrastructure of over 1,200 cyclotrons globally, enabling widespread production of Fluorine-18-based radiotracers such as 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. This isotope's 110-minute half-life supports on-site synthesis in major facilities such as the MD Anderson Cancer Center's Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Program, ensuring timely distribution for over 2.5 million annual PET scans, predominantly in oncology where it detects hypermetabolic activity in cancers like lung and colorectal (8%). The American Cancer Society projects 2.3 million new cancer diagnoses in 2025, amplifying demand as FDG-PET/CT alters management in 38% of cases by refining staging and averting unnecessary surgeries, with sensitivity exceeding 90% for metastases. Neurological applications are surging amid 6.7 million Alzheimer's patients, where amyloid tracers like florbetapir (approved 2012) visualize plaques with 90-95% accuracy, distinguishing Alzheimer's from other dementias in 60% of mild cognitive impairment cases. In cardiology, the FDA's September 2024 approval of flurpiridaz F-18 (Flyrcado) marks a milestone, offering 87% accuracy in coronary artery disease detection, rivaling SPECT while reducing scan times by 30%, poised to serve 1 million annual myocardial viability assessments. Additionally, regulatory momentum, with over 40 novel Fluorine-18 compounds in trials since 2020, and Medicare covering 80% of PET claims, fuels growth despite costs of US$ 300-US$ 500 per FDG dose. Innovations such as time-of-flight PET/CT in 70% of new installations boost signal-to-noise ratios by 40%, enabling lower doses. As aging population increases over 100 million adults needing nuclear scans decentralized production via mini-cyclotrons addresses rural shortages, potentially increasing procedural volumes by 15-20% by 2030. This ecosystem, bolstered by US$ 32 million DOE grants in 2024 for isotope facilities, positions the US as a Fluorine-18 powerhouse, enhancing precision diagnostics and reducing cancer mortality through early interventions

Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Fluorine-18 Imaging Analysis to Provide Market Opportunities in Future

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into Fluorine-18-based positron emission tomography (PET) imaging analysis is poised to revolutionize the market by enhancing diagnostic accuracy and streamlining clinical workflows. AI algorithms, particularly deep learning models, are increasingly applied to interpret Fluorine-18 tracer uptake patterns, such as those of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG), achieving 90-95% accuracy in detecting oncologic lesions compared to human readers. In oncology, where 20 million new cancer cases are projected globally by 2040, AI-driven analysis of FDG-PET/CT scans identifies metastases in lung cancer with 92% sensitivity, reducing false negatives by 20%. For neurological applications, AI quantifies amyloid plaque burden in Alzheimer's using florbetapir, predicting disease progression with 90% accuracy across 55 million dementia cases in 2025. These models also optimize standardized uptake value (SUV) calculations, cutting analysis time by 30% and enabling real-time decision-making. In prostate cancer, AI-enhanced 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT analysis has altered treatment plans in 40% of cases by detecting occult lesions missed in 15% of manual interpretations. The global adoption of AI in imaging is accelerating, with 25% of PET centers in the US and Europe integrating such tools by 2025, driven by a 15% annual increase in PET/CT installations. Developing countries such as India, with 150 cyclotrons and US$ 500 million in nuclear medicine investments, are leveraging open-source AI platforms to bridge expertise gaps, potentially increasing diagnostic access by 20%. AI also supports theranostics, predicting response to Lutetium-177-PSMA therapy in prostate cancer with 85% accuracy, improving survival by 12 months. The initiatives such as the 2024 SNMMI AI Task Force aim to harmonize protocols, boosting adoption. This trend could increase Fluorine-18 procedural volumes, reduce diagnostic costs, and enhance precision medicine, particularly in high-burden diseases, fostering a market shift toward automated, scalable imaging solutions.

The US Food and Drug Administration, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Bank Data, National Health Service (NHS), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), EMA (European Medicines Agency), and WHO (World Health Organization) are among the primary and secondary sources referred to while preparing the fluorine 18 market report.