Technetium-99m (DB14227): A Comprehensive Review of its Properties and Clinical Utility

Executive Summary

Technetium-99m (99mTc) stands as the most indispensable medical radioisotope in modern nuclear medicine, utilized in tens of millions of diagnostic procedures annually across the globe.[1] Its preeminence is rooted in a nearly ideal combination of physicochemical and radiochemical properties. With a short physical half-life of approximately 6 hours and a principal gamma emission of 140.5 keV,

99mTc allows for high-quality diagnostic imaging with minimal radiation dose to the patient.[1] The isotope's versatile coordination chemistry enables it to be chelated to a vast array of carrier molecules, or ligands, creating a diverse portfolio of radiopharmaceuticals, each designed to trace specific physiological pathways or target particular organ systems.[5] This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Technetium-99m, detailing its fundamental properties, the principles of its radiopharmacology, its extensive clinical applications in functional imaging, and its safety profile. Furthermore, it examines the critical logistical framework of its production via Molybdenum-99 (

99Mo) generators, a system that underpins its global availability but also presents significant supply chain challenges.[7]

Introduction: The Cornerstone of Nuclear Medicine

Technetium-99m (99mTc) is a metastable nuclear isomer of the artificially produced element technetium.[1] First isolated in 1938 as a decay product of Molybdenum-99 (

99Mo), its potential as a medical tool remained largely unrealized for over two decades.[9] The field of nuclear medicine was fundamentally transformed in 1960 when Powell Richards at Brookhaven National Laboratory first proposed the use of

99mTc as a medical tracer, recognizing its unique potential for diagnostic imaging.[7] Since then,