Pharmaceutical drug which emits radiation, used as a diagnostic or therapeutic agent
Acarbon-11 labelled radiopharmaceutical Radiopharmaceuticals , ormedicinal radiocompounds , are a group ofpharmaceutical drugs containingradioactive isotopes . Radiopharmaceuticals can be used asdiagnostic andtherapeutic agents. Radiopharmaceuticals emit radiation themselves, which is different fromcontrast media which absorb or alter external electromagnetism or ultrasound.Radiopharmacology is the branch of pharmacology that specializes in these agents.
The main group of these compounds are theradiotracers used to diagnose dysfunction in bodytissues . While not allmedical isotopes are radioactive, radiopharmaceuticals are the oldest and remain the most common of such drugs.
As with other pharmaceutical drugs, there isstandardization of thedrug nomenclature for radiopharmaceuticals, although various standards coexist. TheInternational Nonproprietary Names (INNs),United States Pharmacopeia (USP) names, andIUPAC names for these agents are usually similar other than trivial style differences.[ 1] Radiopharmacology § Drug nomenclature for radiopharmaceuticals
Specific radiopharmaceuticals [ edit ] A list ofnuclear medicine radiopharmaceuticals follows. Some radioisotopes are used inionic orinert form without attachment to a pharmaceutical; these are also included. There is a section for eachradioisotope with a table of radiopharmaceuticals using that radioisotope. The sections are ordered by atomic number of the radioisotope. Sections for the sameelement are then ordered byatomic mass number .
3 H ortritium is abeta 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
11 C is apositron 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 Cbeta 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 detectHelicobacter pylori Oral In-vitro Non-imaging C14-d-xylose Breath test for small intestine bacterial overgrowth Oral In-vitro Non-imaging
13 Npositron emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro /in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging N13-Ammonia Myocardial blood flow imaging IV In-vivo Imaging
15 Opositron 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
18 Fpositron 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
22 Napositron andgamma 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 Nabeta andgamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro /in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Na24-Na+ Electrolyte studies Oral or IV In-vitro Non-imaging
32 Pbeta emitter.
Name Treatment of Route of administration P32-Phosphate Polycythemia and related disordersIV or Oral
47 Ca is abeta andgamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro /in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Ca-47-Ca2+ Bone metabolism IV In-vitro Non-imaging
51 Crgamma 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
59 Febeta andgamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro /in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Fe59-Fe2+ or Fe3+ Iron metabolism IV In-vitro Non-imaging
57 Cogamma 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 Cogamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro /in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Co58-Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12 ) Gastrointestinal absorption Oral In-vitro Non-imaging
67 Gagamma 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 Gapositron emitter, with a 68-minutehalf-life , produced byelution from germanium-68 in agallium-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
75 Segamma 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
81 Krm 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
82 Rbpositron andgamma emitter.
Name Investigation of Route of administration Rb-82 chloride Myocardial Imaging IV
89 Srbeta emitter.
Name Treatment of Route of administration Sr89-Chloride Bone metastases IV
90 Ybeta emitter.
Name Treatment of Route of administration Y90-Silicate Arthritic conditions Intra-articular Y90-Silicate Malignant disease Intracavitary
Technetium-99m is agamma emitter. It is obtained on-site at the imaging center as the soluble pertechnetate which is eluted from atechnetium-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
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 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
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
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
111 Ingamma emitter.
Iodine-123 (I-123) is agamma 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 imagingThyroidmetastases 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 Igamma 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 afibrinogen scan to diagnose clotting. I-125's gamma radiation is of medium penetration, making it more useful as a therapeutic isotope forbrachytherapy 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 Ibeta andgamma 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 agamma 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 whenonly 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 Thyroidmetastases 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-toxicgoiter IV or Oral I131-Iodide Thyroid carcinoma IV or Oral I131-MIBG (m-iodobenzylguanidine) Malignant disease IV
133 Xegamma 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
153 Smbeta andgamma emitter.
Name Treatment of Route of administration Sm153-EDTMP (Ethylenediaminotetramethylenephosphoric acid)Bone metastases IV
169 Erbeta emitter.
Name Treatment of Route of administration Er169-Colloid Arthritic conditions Intra-articular
177 Lubeta emitter.
201 Tlgamma emitter.
Name Investigation Route of administration In-vitro /in-vivo Imaging / non-imaging Tl201-Tl+ Non-specific tumor imagingThyroid tumor imaging
IV In-vivo Imaging
223 Raalpha emitter.
