History of nuclear medicine in Iran dates back to about 40 years ago. In 1961, Prof. Nezam Mafi, pioneered nuclear medicine in Iran. He and his colleagues started their studies in the field of Endocrinology particularly thyroid function evaluation with a simple thyroid probe.They expanded their research activities to different procedures of nuclear medicine for the first time.These activities were performed at the Tehran university in 1965. With the technology advances in the field of nuclear medicine and development of new radioisotopes, significant rise in the number of nuclear equipment and procedures resulted and gradually became well established clinical centers of Tehran University hospitals. Private clinics also were developed and expanded accordingly.

Since 1984, nuclear medicine has been recognized as an independent residency program in IRAN which is offered as a 3 years training program . Nuclear medicine graduates will became eligible for the board examination which is being held at national level, and is strictly supervised by Ministry of Health and Medical Education.
There are 3 universities now, responsible for residency program and at present, 70 nuclear medicine specialists are working at different nuclear medicine centers. In addition, there are 200 technicians work in this field.


Since 1992, with the support of our colleagues at research Institute of nuclear medicine department of Tehran university, the first Iranian Journal of Nuclear Medicine is being published and 15 vol. of this journal is accessible.


There has been published. a considerable amount of papers by our member scientists which accessible by requested.

The Iranian society of nuclear medicine was founded in 1979. Its prime objectives were: To transfer the latest information in the field of nuclear medicine and organize nuclear medicine seminars and conferences on annual and monthly bases. Facilitates the exchange of experiences and research activities and also extends and improve training for nuclear medicine for related subjects and provide facilities to keep specialists in touch with modern trends. Another ISNM intention was to broaden its contact with other establishments and organizations all over the world.

At present there are 148 nuclear medicine centers around the country ,of which 72 state owned and 76 private and they are mostly equipped with advanced technology . There are 114 operational gamma cameras in Iran of which, 41 are SPECT systems(24 more are ordered) 38 are planar systems (3 additional ones under contract) and 35 are single and multiheaded scanners .In addition, there are 2 coincidence PET systems installed one operating at AEOI coupled with cyclotron and the other at the Shariati hospital , a teaching hospital of Tehran university. Almost all nuclear medicine procedures are being carried out for cardiac, brain, tumors and etc. We hoped that in the near future we would be able to perform considerable amount of research studies by our PET systems. .

The AEOI has been established as a research center for the application of nuclear techniques in various fields including nuclear medicine in 1986. The AEOI succeeded to make advances in several nuclear technologies with the technical assistance and financial support of IAEA. AEOI is responsible for all nuclear activities, especially in field of nuclear medicine, it has close co-operation schedules to optimize all activities in this field, of which, production of radionucleides, cold kits, and RIA kits. After installation of a powerful cyclotron in AEOI, this organization provides a great number of radiopharmaceutcals for all nuclear medicine centers in the country. AEOI provides daily needs of generators (Mo99/Tc99m), I-131, I-123, Ga67 citrate, Kr81m, In-111, Tl-201, and now production of FDG supports us for performing PET imaging. All daily needed cold kits such as MDP, MIBI, DTPA, DMSA, MIBG, EC, ECD, HMPAO are also produced in Iran. AEOI also provides all QA and QC programs and maintenance services for nuclear medicine systems in all nuclear medicine centers in Iran. In addition, AEOI renders all radioprotection services throughout the country by performing dosimetry in both therapeutic and protection levels. It also offers training courses in radiation protection for eligible staff.

Most of our needed radiopharmaceuticals are being prepared and manufactured at the AEOI since 1986.

It can be classified in 3 groups as follows:

Since IAEA has got contacts an international influence and relationships on the manufacturing companies, IAEA can support us through appropriate ways for the easier acquisition of the latest software and most other sophisticated components. At the same time IAEA can also assist member states through closer cooperation in QA and QC programs in order to better maintenance of those sys

Although ,AEOI had been able to attain a desirable level of production of clinically -used radiotracer and kits as well,however due to lack of some special kits and radiopharmaceutical agents in Iran,We have not perform some specific scintigraphy yet. In addition,due to lack of some of the therapeutical tracers ,it restricted our therapeutic activities in this field. AEOI has the expansion production of radiotracers on the agenda,therefore collaboration between IAEA and AEOI can be directed in the following ways. 1/IAEA facilitates AEOI access to required tracers and kits directly from producing countries. and more important 2/ IAEA provides the possibility for production of these new tracers for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

AEOI intends to update nuclear medicine specialists and nuclear technicians through training and vocation courses offered by IAEA in the framework of scholarships,fellowships program and scientific tours as well as exchange of research results among state members in the west asia .In this area, the IAEA support in holding training programme in several field of nuclear medicine particularly in PET.