What are some commonly used radioisotopes in diagnostic nuclear medicine?
Such radioisotopes are often used to label specific molecular compounds that target a molecular process, cellular process, or disease of interest which may then be imaged.
Commonly Used Radioisotopes in Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine
| NAME | PHYSICAL HALF-LIFE | USED WITH |
|---|---|---|
| Technetium-99m ( 99m Tc) | 6 hours | Planar scintigraphy, SPECT |
| Iodine-123 ( 123 I) | 13.2 hours | Planar scintigraphy, SPECT |
| Indium-111 ( 111 In) | 67 hours | Planar scintigraphy, SPECT |
| Thalium-201 ( 201 Tl) | 73.1 hours | Planar scintigraphy, SPECT |
| Gallium-67 ( 67 Ga) | 78.3 hours | Planar scintigraphy, SPECT |
| Xenon-133 ( 133 Xe) | 5.3 days | Planar scintigraphy, SPECT |
| Rubidium-82 ( 82 Rb) | 1.3 minutes | PET |
| Oxygen-15 ( 15 O) | 2 minutes | PET |
| Nitrogen-13 ( 13 N) | 10 minutes | PET |
| Carbon-11 ( 11 C) | 20 minutes | PET |
| Gallium-68 ( 68 Ga) | 68 minutes | PET |
| Fluorine-18 ( 18 F) | 110 minutes | PET |
| Copper-64 ( 64 Cu) | 12.7 hours | PET |
| Iodine-124 ( 124 I) | 4.2 days | PET |
