Final answer:
Technetium-99m (99m Tc) is used to assess renal tubular function in medical imaging. It's advantageous due to its identifiable gamma ray and short half-life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The radiopharmaceutical used to assess renal tubular function is Technetium-99m (99m Tc). This isotope has become central to nuclear medicine because of its properties, such as producing a single, easily identified gamma ray and having a short half-life, which reduces radiation exposure. Technetium compounds are preferentially absorbed by damaged tissues, which makes 99m Tc useful in imaging technique where its uptake can signal various kidney functions. Specifically, agents like 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) and 99mTc-DMSA are utilized for renal imaging, where MAG3 is excreted by the tubules and is valuable for renal tubular function assessments.