Radiopharmaceutical
A radioactive compound administered to a patient for diagnosis or treatment.
Unit
MBq
In depth
The molecule is designed to concentrate in a target organ while the attached isotope provides the radiation. Diagnostic agents use short-lived gamma emitters to minimise dose, while therapeutic agents use beta or alpha emitters that deposit their energy locally.
Examples in the real world
Technetium-99m for bone scans; iodine-131 for thyroid cancer; fluorodeoxyglucose for PET imaging of tumours.