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. 
   
Drug nomenclature   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  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 . 
 
Calcium-47  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   
 
Carbon-11  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   
 
Carbon-14  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   
 
Chromium-51  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   
 
Cobalt-57  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   
 
Cobalt-58  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   
 
Erbium-169  169 Er  is a beta  emitter. 
    Name   Treatment of   Route of administration     Er169-Colloid   Arthritic conditions   Intra-articular   
 
Fluorine-18   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   
 
Gallium-67   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   
 
Gallium-68  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   
 
Hydrogen-3  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   
 
Indium-111  111 In  is a gamma  emitter. 
  
Iodine-123  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   
 
Iodine-125  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    
 
Iodine-131  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. 
 
Diagnostic     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   
 
Therapeutic     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   
 
Iron-59  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   
 
Krypton-81m  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   
 
Lutetium-177  177 Lu  is a beta  emitter. 
  
Nitrogen-13  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   
 
Oxygen-15  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   
 
Phosphorus-32  32 P  is a beta  emitter. 
    Name   Treatment of   Route of administration     P32-Phosphate   Polycythemia  and related disorders   IV or Oral   
 
Radium-223  223 Ra  is an alpha  emitter. 
  
Rubidium-82  82 Rb  is a positron  and gamma  emitter. 
    Name   Investigation of   Route of administration     Rb-82 chloride    Myocardial Imaging   IV   
 
Samarium-153  153 Sm  is a beta  and gamma  emitter. 
    Name   Treatment of   Route of administration     Sm153-EDTMP  (Ethylenediaminotetramethylenephosphoric acid)   Bone metastases   IV   
 
Selenium-75  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   
 
Sodium-22  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   
 
Sodium-24  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   
 
Strontium-89  89 Sr  is a beta  emitter. 
    Name   Treatment of   Route of administration     Sr89-Chloride   Bone metastases   IV   
 
Technetium-99m  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   
 
Thallium-201  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   
 
Xenon-133  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   
 
Yttrium-90  90 Y  is a beta  emitter. 
    Name   Treatment of   Route of administration     Y90-Silicate   Arthritic conditions   Intra-articular     Y90-Silicate   Malignant disease   Intracavitary   
 
See also   
References   
External links   
 
 
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