Pharmaceutical drug which emits radiation, used as a diagnostic or therapeutic agent
A carbon-11 labelled radiopharmaceutical Radiopharmaceuticals , or medicinal radiocompounds , are a group of pharmaceutical drugs containing radioactive isotopes . Radiopharmaceuticals can be used as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Radiopharmaceuticals emit radiation themselves, which is different from contrast 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 the radiotracers used to diagnose dysfunction in body tissues . While not all medical isotopes are radioactive, radiopharmaceuticals are the oldest and remain the most common of such drugs.
As with other pharmaceutical drugs, there is standardization of the drug nomenclature for radiopharmaceuticals, although various standards coexist. The International Nonproprietary Names (INNs), United States Pharmacopeia (USP) names, and IUPAC names for these agents are usually similar other than trivial style differences.[ 1] The details are explained at Radiopharmacology § Drug nomenclature for radiopharmaceuticals .
Specific radiopharmaceuticals [ edit ] 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 imaging Parathyroid 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 measurement IV 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 imaging Myocardial 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 imaging IV 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 uptake Oral or IV In-vivo Non-imaging I123-Iodide Thyroid imaging Thyroid 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 uptake Oral 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 imaging Myocardial 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 disorders IV 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 imaging IV In-vivo Imaging Se75-SeHCAT (23-Seleno-25-homo-tauro-cholate) Bile salt absorption Oral 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 imaging Stomach and salivary gland imaging Meckel'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 imaging GI Bleeding
IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Colloid Lymph node imaging Interstitial In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-Colloid Esophageal transit and reflux imaging Gastric 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 volume Spleen imaging
IV In-vitro Non-imaging Tc99m-Whole red blood cells GI bleeding Cardiac blood pool imaging Peripheral vascular imaging
IV In-vivo Imaging Tc99m-MAG3 (mercaptoacetyltriglycine) Renal imaging First 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 imaging Myocardial 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 imaging Thyroid 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