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21 May 2013

Answer to Question #1324 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Nuclear Medicine Patient Issues — Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

This will probably seem a simple question to most but how do the uses (medical) relate to the chemical properties of the isotope^99mTc (technetium-99m)?

The imaging applications/medical uses are only indirectly related to the chemical properties of ^99mTc. Usually, ^99mTc is chemically attached to a tissue-specific carrier molecule for targeting for a specific application (that is, heart, kidney, or tumor imaging). Thus, the properties of the total molecule and its stability are deciding factors for a potential medical application. The success in radiolabeling of such molecules is dependent upon the ingenuity of a wide variety of different methods which are now available for attachment of ^99mTc. On the other hand, the other requirement is that the agent will retain its tissue/targeting specificity when the relatively large groups required for binding ^99mTc are introduced into the molecule.

F.F. (Russ) Knapp, Jr., PhD
Nuclear Medicine Program
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Answer posted on 7 November 2001. The information and material posted on this website is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the website. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.