TABLE 1. Decay characteristics of commonly used PET and SPECT radionuclides

Radionuclide

Maximum

positron

energy

T1/2

Photon

energy

Positron emitters

15Oxygen

1.72 MeV 2.1 min 511 keV

13Nitrogen

1.19 MeV 10.0 min 511 keV

11Carbon

0.96 MeV 20.3 min 511 keV

18Fluorine

0.64 MeV 109.0 min 511 keV
Single-photon

emitters

99mTechnetium - 6.0 hr 140 keV

123Iodine

- 13.0 hr 159 keV

133Xenon

- 5.3 days 80 keV
Back to Chapter