Which radioactive element is commonly used in nuclear medicine?

Technetium-99m is widely used in nuclear medicine due to its properties that make it ideal for diagnostic imaging. This radioisotope has a half-life of about six hours, which is long enough to perform a variety of scans, yet short enough to minimize patient radiation exposure. Its decay produces gamma rays that are very suitable for medical imaging because they can be detected by gamma cameras.

Technetium-99m is used to label a variety of radiopharmaceuticals that can target specific organs or tissues in the body, allowing for detailed imaging of different systems, such as the cardiovascular system, kidneys, and bones. This ability to provide functional information about the organs being imaged is a significant advantage in diagnosis and treatment planning.

In comparison, while Iodine-131 is also used in medicine, particularly for treating thyroid conditions, it is less versatile than Technetium-99m for imaging purposes. Cesium-137 and Strontium-90 are primarily used in radiation therapy and certain types of industrial applications rather than for diagnostic nuclear medicine.