Question

The most common tracer used in 85% of all nuclear medicine imaging including bone scans, liver scans, renal function studies, and for labeling RBCs is

Answer 1

The most common tracer used in nuclear medicine imaging, including bone scans and liver scans, is technetium-99m.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most common tracer used in 85% of all nuclear medicine imaging, such as bone scans, liver scans, renal function studies, and for labeling RBCs, is technetium-99m (99mTc).

Technetium-99m is preferred for these imaging procedures because it produces a single, easily identified gamma ray and has a short half-life of 6.0 hours, which reduces radiation exposure. It is used in many radiopharmaceuticals to image the skeleton, heart, lungs, and kidneys.

For example, in a bone scan, a small amount of technetium-99m is injected into the bloodstream and is taken up by the bones. The areas with increased bone activity, such as bone tumors or infections, show up as areas of increased uptake on the scan.