A list of nuclear medicine radiopharmaceuticals follows. Some radioisotopes are used in ionic or inert form without attachment to a pharmaceutical; these are also included. There is a section for each radioisotope with a table of radiopharmaceuticals using that radioisotope. The sections are ordered alphabetically by the English name of the radioisotope. Sections for the same element are then ordered by atomic mass number .
47 Ca is a beta and gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Ca-47-Ca2+ Bone metabolism IV In-vitro Non-imaging
11 C is a positron emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging C11-L-methyl-methionine Brain tumour imagingParathyroid imaging
IV In-vivo Imaging
14 C is a beta emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging C14-Glycocholic acid Breath test for small intestine bacterial overgrowth Oral In-vitro Non-imaging C14-PABA (para-amino benzoic acid) Pancreatic studies Oral In-vitro Non-imaging C14-Urea Breath test to detect Helicobacter pylori Oral In-vitro Non-imaging C14-d-xylose Breath test for small intestine bacterial overgrowth Oral In-vitro Non-imaging
51 Cr is a gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Cr51-[heart scan/blood volume Red cell volume heart scan; sites of sequestration; gastrointestinal blood loss IV In-vitro Non-imaging Cr51-Cr3+ Gastrointestinal protein loss IV In-vitro Non-imaging Cr51-EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) Glomerular filtration rate measurementIV In-vitro Non-imaging
57 Co is a gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Co57-Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12 ) Gastrointestinal absorption Oral In-vitro Non-imaging
58 Co is a gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Co58-Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12 ) Gastrointestinal absorption Oral In-vitro Non-imaging
169 Er is a beta emitter.
Name Treatment of Route of administration Er169-Colloid Arthritic conditions Intra-articular
18 F is a positron emitter with a half-life of 109 minutes. It is produced in medical cyclotrons, usually from oxygen-18, and then chemically attached to a pharmaceutical formulation.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging F18-FDG (Fluorodeoxyglucose ) Tumor imagingMyocardial imaging
IV In-vivo Imaging F18-Sodium Fluoride Bone imaging IV In-vivo Imaging F18-Fluorocholine Prostate tumor imaging IV In-vivo Imaging F18-Desmethoxyfallypride Dopamine receptor imaging IV In-vivo Imaging
67 Ga is a gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Ga67-Ga3+ Tumor imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Ga67-Ga3+ Infection/inflammation imaging IV In-vivo Imaging
68 Ga is a positron emitter, with a 68-minute half-life , produced by elution from germanium-68 in a gallium-68 generator or by proton irradiation of zinc-68.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Ga68-Dotatoc or Dotatate Neuroendocrine tumor imagingIV In-vivo Imaging Ga68-PSMA Prostate cancer imaging IV In-vivo Imaging
3 H or tritium is a beta emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging H3-water Total body water Oral or IV In-vitro Non-imaging
111 In is a gamma emitter.
Iodine-123 (I-123) is a gamma emitter. It is used only diagnostically, as its radiation is penetrating and short-lived.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging I123-Iodide Thyroid uptakeOral or IV In-vivo Non-imaging I123-Iodide Thyroid imagingThyroid metastases imaging
Oral or IV In-vivo Imaging I123-o-Iodohippurate Renal imaging IV In-vivo Imaging I123-MIBG (m-iodobenzylguanidine) Neuroectodermal tumour imaging IV In-vivo Imaging I123-FP-CIT SPECT imaging of Parkinson's Disease IV In-vivo Imaging
125 I is a gamma emitter with a long half-life of 59.4 days (the longest of all radioiodines used in medicine). Iodine-123 is preferred for imaging, so I-125 is used diagnostically only when the test requires a longer period to prepare the radiopharmaceutical and trace it, such as a fibrinogen scan to diagnose clotting. I-125's gamma radiation is of medium penetration, making it more useful as a therapeutic isotope for brachytherapy implant of radioisotope capsules for local treatment of cancers.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging I125-fibrinogen Clot imaging IV In-vivo Imaging
131 I is a beta and gamma emitter. It is used both to destroy thyroid and thyroid cancer tissues (via beta radiation, which is short-range), and also other neuroendocrine tissues when used in MIBG. It can also be seen by a gamma camera , and can serve as a diagnostic imaging tracer, when treatment is also being attempted at the same time. However iodine-123 is usually preferred when only imaging is desired.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging I131-Iodide Thyroid uptakeOral In-vivo Non-imaging I131-Iodide Thyroid metastases imaging Oral or IV In-vivo Imaging I131-MIBG (m-iodobenzylguanidine) Neuroectodermal tumor imaging IV In-vivo Imaging
Name Treatment of Route of administration I131-Iodide Thyrotoxicosis IV or Oral I131-Iodide Non-toxic goiter IV or Oral I131-Iodide Thyroid carcinoma IV or Oral I131-MIBG (m-iodobenzylguanidine) Malignant disease IV
59 Fe is a beta and gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Fe59-Fe2+ or Fe3+ Iron metabolism IV In-vitro Non-imaging
81 Krm is a gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging the radioactive substance Kr81m-Gas Lung ventilation imaging Inhalation In-vivo Imaging Kr-81m-Aqueous solution Lung perfusion imaging IV In-vivo Imaging
177 Lu is a beta emitter.
13 N is a positron emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging N13-Ammonia Myocardial blood flow imaging IV In-vivo Imaging
15 O is a positron emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging O15-Water Cerebral blood flow imagingMyocardial blood flow imaging
IV bolus In-vivo Imaging
32 P is a beta emitter.
Name Treatment of Route of administration P32-Phosphate Polycythemia and related disordersIV or Oral
223 Ra is an alpha emitter.
82 Rb is a positron and gamma emitter.
Name Investigation of Route of administration Rb-82 chloride Myocardial Imaging IV
153 Sm is a beta and gamma emitter.
Name Treatment of Route of administration Sm153-EDTMP (Ethylenediaminotetramethylenephosphoric acid)Bone metastases IV
75 Se is a gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Se75-Selenorcholesterol Adrenal gland imagingIV In-vivo Imaging Se75-SeHCAT (23-Seleno-25-homo-tauro-cholate) Bile salt absorptionOral In-vivo Imaging
22 Na is a positron and gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Na22-Na+ Electrolyte studies Oral or IV In-vitro Non-imaging
24 Na is a beta and gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Na24-Na+ Electrolyte studies Oral or IV In-vitro Non-imaging
89 Sr is a beta emitter.
Name Treatment of Route of administration Sr89-Chloride Bone metastases IV
Technetium-99m is a gamma emitter. It is obtained on-site at the imaging center as the soluble pertechnetate which is eluted from a technetium-99m generator , and then either used directly as this soluble salt, or else used to synthesize a number of technetium-99m-based radiopharmaceuticals.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Tc99m-pertechnetate Thyroid uptake and thyroid imagingStomach and salivary gland imagingMeckel's diverticulum imaging Brain imaging Micturating cystogram First pass blood flow imaging First pass peripheral vascular imaging
IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-pertechnetate Lacrimal imaging Eye drops In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Human albumin Cardiac blood pool imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Human albumin Peripheral vascular imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Human albumin macroaggregates or microspheres Lung perfusion imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Human albumin macroaggregates or microspheres Lung perfusion imaging with venography IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Phosphonates and phosphates (MDP/HDP) Bone imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Phosphonates and phosphates Myocardial imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-DTPA (diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid) Renal imaging First pass blood flow studies Brain imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-DTPA (diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid) Lung ventilation imaging Aerosol inhalation In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-DMSA(V) (dimercaptosuccinic acid ) Tumor imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-DMSA(III) (dimercaptosuccinic acid ) Renal imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Colloid Bone marrow imagingGI Bleeding
IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Colloid Lymph node imaging Interstitial In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Colloid Esophageal transit and reflux imagingGastric emptying imaging
Oral In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Colloid Lacrimal imaging Eye drops In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-HIDA (Hepatic iminodiacetic acid) Functional biliary system imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Denatured (heat damaged) red blood cells Red cell volumeSpleen imaging
IV In-vitro Non-imaging Tc99m-Whole red blood cells GI bleedingCardiac blood pool imaging Peripheral vascular imaging
IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-MAG3 (mercaptoacetyltriglycine) Renal imagingFirst pass blood flow imaging
IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Exametazime (HMPAO)Cerebral blood flow imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Exametazime labelled leucocytes Infection/inflammation imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Sestamibi (MIBI - methoxy isobutyl isonitrile) Parathyroid imaging Non-specific tumor imaging Thyroid tumor imaging Breast imaging Myocardial imaging
IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Sulesomab (IMMU-MN3 murine Fab'-SH antigranulocyte monoclonal antibody fragments) Infection/inflammation imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Technegas Lung ventilation imaging Inhalation In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Human immunoglobulin Infection/inflammation imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Tetrofosmin Parathyroid imagingMyocardial imaging
IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-ECD (ethyl cysteinate dimer) Brain imaging----- IV In-vivo Imaging
201 Tl is a gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Tl201-Tl+ Non-specific tumor imagingThyroid tumor imaging Myocardial imaging Parathyroid imaging
IV In-vivo Imaging
133 Xe is a gamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro / in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Xe133-gas Lung ventilation studies Inhalation In-vivo Imaging Xe133 in isotonic sodium chloride solution Cerebral blood flow IV In-vivo Imaging
90 Y is a beta emitter.
Name Treatment of Route of administration Y90-Silicate Arthritic conditions Intra-articular Y90-Silicate Malignant disease Intracavitary