What type of radionuclide is used to evaluate renal function?

Technetium-99m is the preferred radionuclide for evaluating renal function due to its physical and chemical properties that make it particularly suitable for this application. It has a short half-life of approximately six hours, which allows for rapid imaging and reduces radiation exposure to the patient. Moreover, it emits gamma rays at an ideal energy level for detection by gamma cameras, ensuring clear and accurate imaging.

In the context of renal imaging, Technetium-99m is often used in the form of specific radiopharmaceuticals, such as Technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) or Technetium-99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), which provide information on renal perfusion and function, as well as glomerular filtration rate. The pharmacokinetics of these compounds allow for effective visualization of the kidneys in a non-invasive manner.

Other radionuclides listed do serve different purposes in nuclear medicine. Thallium-201 is primarily used in myocardial perfusion imaging, Iodine-123 is most often utilized for thyroid imaging and studies, and Carbon-14 is used in metabolic studies and research applications rather than direct imaging. Therefore,