What is the half-life of Technetium-99m?

The half-life of Technetium-99m is approximately 6 hours. This characteristic is important in nuclear medicine as it allows for adequate imaging time with radioactive tracers while minimizing the patient's exposure to radiation.

Technetium-99m decays into Technetium-99, which has a much longer half-life, thus providing useful applications in various imaging studies such as bone scans, cardiac perfusion studies, and others. The relatively short half-life of Technetium-99m ensures that the radiopharmaceutical is effective for diagnostic imaging without remaining in the body for prolonged periods, reducing the risk of radiation exposure to the patient.

Understanding the half-life is crucial for nuclear medicine professionals as it influences dosimetry calculations, timing of imaging studies, and the overall safety and efficacy of the procedures performed.