Medical Radioisotope Reference

Isotope	Half-life	Emission	Modality	Primary clinical use	Example product	Production	Transport & handling note
PET (diagnostic)
Fluorine-18 AIRF-18	~110 min	β+	PET	Glucose metabolism (FDG) for oncology, neurology, cardiology; prostate (PSMA); bone (NaF); amyloid imaging for Alzheimer's; estrogen-receptor imaging	FDG; Pylarify; Axumin; Amyvid, Vizamyl, Neuraceq (amyloid); Cerianna	Cyclotron	Workhorse PET tracer; decay clock in hours — cyclotron-made and distributed fast
Gallium-68 Ga-68	~68 min	β+	PET	Neuroendocrine tumors (DOTATATE); prostate cancer (PSMA-11)	Netspot; Locametz, Illuccix, Gozellix	Generator (Ge-68/Ga-68) or cyclotron	Very short half-life — local generator or fast point-to-point transport
Copper-64 AIRCu-64	12.7 h	β+ / β− / EC	PET (theranostic)	Neuroendocrine imaging; antibody/peptide labeling; theranostic pair with Cu-67	Detectnet	Cyclotron / accelerator	Longer PET half-life eases regional shipment
Zirconium-89 AIRZr-89	~78 h (3.3 d)	β+	PET	Immuno-PET; monoclonal-antibody imaging	Investigational	Cyclotron	Long PET half-life — ships well over distance
Iodine-124 AIRI-124	4.2 d	β+	PET	Thyroid cancer; antibody imaging	Investigational	Cyclotron	Ships well; multi-day window
Carbon-11 C-11	~20 min	β+	PET	Prostate (choline); neuroreceptor and amyloid (PiB) research	C-11 choline	Cyclotron	Ultra-short — requires an on-site cyclotron
Nitrogen-13 N-13	~10 min	β+	PET	Myocardial perfusion (ammonia)	Ammonia N-13	Cyclotron	Ultra-short — on-site production only
Oxygen-15 O-15	~2 min	β+	PET	Cerebral and myocardial blood flow (water)	Research	Cyclotron	Ultra-short — on-site production only
Rubidium-82 Rb-82	~75 sec	β+	PET	Myocardial perfusion (cardiac PET)	CardioGen-82	Generator (Sr-82/Rb-82)	Made at point of use; the Sr-82 parent is shipped instead
Scandium-44 Sc-44	~4 h	β+	PET (theranostic)	Theranostic imaging pair with Sc-47	Investigational	Cyclotron / generator	Emerging; short half-life
SPECT / gamma (diagnostic)
Technetium-99m AIRTc-99m	6.0 h	γ (140 keV)	SPECT	~80% of all nuclear imaging: cardiac perfusion, bone, lung V/Q, renal, thyroid, brain, sentinel-node, hepatobiliary	Cardiolite, Myoview, and many others	Generator (Mo-99/Tc-99m)	Eluted at the pharmacy; the Mo-99 parent is the shipped item
Iodine-123 AIRI-123	13.2 h	γ (159 keV)	SPECT	Thyroid uptake; dopamine transporter (Parkinson's); MIBG for neuroendocrine/neuroblastoma	DaTscan; AdreView	Cyclotron	Decay clock — distributed regionally same/next day
Indium-111 AIRIn-111	~67 h (2.8 d)	γ / EC	SPECT	Infection imaging (labeled WBCs); neuroendocrine (pentetreotide); cisternography	OctreoScan	Cyclotron	Multi-day window — ships well
Thallium-201 AIRTl-201	~73 h (3 d)	γ / X-ray / EC	SPECT	Myocardial perfusion ('thallium' stress test); some tumor imaging	Thallous chloride Tl-201	Cyclotron	Ships well
Gallium-67 AIRGa-67	~78 h (3.3 d)	γ / EC	SPECT	Infection and inflammation; historic lymphoma imaging	Gallium citrate Ga-67	Cyclotron	Ships well
Xenon-133 AIRXe-133	5.2 d	β− / γ	SPECT (gas)	Lung ventilation studies	Xenon Xe-133 gas	Reactor (fission)	Gaseous source; among isotopes Eden plans to produce in NM
Krypton-81m Kr-81m	13 sec	γ	SPECT (gas)	Lung ventilation studies	—	Generator (Rb-81/Kr-81m)	Generated at point of use
Chromium-51 Cr-51	27.7 d	γ / EC	In-vitro / SPECT	Red-cell mass and survival; GI blood-loss studies	Sodium chromate Cr-51	Reactor	Long-lived — ships easily
Cobalt-57 Co-57	271.8 d	γ / EC	Diagnostic / calibration	Schilling test (B12 absorption); gamma-camera flood-source calibration	—	Cyclotron	Long-lived reference source
Beta therapy (β−)
Iodine-131 AIRI-131	8.0 d	β− / γ	Therapy + imaging	Thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism ablation; MIBG therapy (neuroblastoma/pheochromocytoma)	Hicon; Azedra	Reactor	The classic therapy isotope; among isotopes Eden plans to produce in NM
Lutetium-177 AIRLu-177	6.6 d	β− / γ	Therapy (+SPECT)	Neuroendocrine PRRT (DOTATATE); metastatic prostate cancer (PSMA)	Lutathera; Pluvicto	Reactor	High-value, decay-sensitive over days; among isotopes Eden plans to produce in NM
Yttrium-90 AIRY-90	~64 h (2.7 d)	β− (pure)	Therapy	Liver-tumor radioembolization (microspheres); lymphoma (ibritumomab); radiosynovectomy	SIR-Spheres, TheraSphere; Zevalin	Reactor / generator (Sr-90/Y-90)	Decay clock — coordinated delivery to procedure date
Samarium-153 AIRSm-153	~46 h (1.9 d)	β− / γ	Therapy	Bone-metastasis pain palliation	Quadramet	Reactor	Decay clock — ships to schedule
Strontium-89 Sr-89	50.6 d	β−	Therapy	Bone-metastasis pain palliation	Metastron	Reactor	Long-lived — flexible logistics
Phosphorus-32 P-32	14.3 d	β− (pure)	Therapy	Polycythemia vera; selected effusions and cystic tumors	Sodium phosphate P-32	Reactor	Ships well
Rhenium-186 Re-186	3.7 d	β− / γ	Therapy	Bone-pain palliation; radiosynovectomy	—	Reactor	Ships to schedule
Rhenium-188 Re-188	16.9 h	β− / γ	Therapy	Bone pain; liver radioembolization	—	Generator (W-188/Re-188)	Generator-derived at point of use
Holmium-166 AIRHo-166	26.8 h	β− / γ	Therapy	Liver radioembolization (microspheres); radiosynovectomy	QuiremSpheres	Reactor	Decay clock in hours
Erbium-169 Er-169	9.4 d	β−	Therapy	Radiosynovectomy of small joints	—	Reactor	Ships well
Dysprosium-165 Dy-165	~2 h	β−	Therapy	Radiosynovectomy of large joints	—	Reactor / generator	Very short — tight delivery window
Copper-67 Cu-67	~62 h (2.6 d)	β− / γ	Therapy (theranostic)	Emerging targeted therapy; theranostic pair with Cu-64	Investigational	Accelerator	Emerging; supply expanding
Scandium-47 Sc-47	3.3 d	β− / γ	Therapy (theranostic)	Emerging targeted therapy; theranostic pair with Sc-44	Investigational	Reactor / accelerator	Emerging
Terbium-161 Tb-161	6.9 d	β− / γ / Auger	Therapy	Emerging alternative to Lu-177	Investigational	Reactor	Emerging
Alpha therapy (α)
Radium-223 AIRRa-223	11.4 d	α	Therapy	Bone-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (approved)	Xofigo	From Ac-227 source	First approved alpha therapy; ships well
Actinium-225 AIRAc-225	9.9 d	α	Therapy	Targeted alpha therapy — prostate (PSMA), neuroendocrine, leukemia	Investigational (e.g., Ac-225-PSMA)	Accelerator / Th-229 generator	Scarce, high-value, decay-sensitive over days
Thorium-227 Th-227	18.7 d	α	Therapy	Targeted thorium conjugates (investigational)	Investigational	From Ac-227 source	Multi-day window
Lead-212 AIRPb-212	10.6 h	α (via Bi-212)	Therapy	Targeted alpha therapy — neuroendocrine, melanoma	Investigational	Generator (Ra-224/Pb-212)	Decay clock in hours; in-vivo alpha generator
Lead-203 Pb-203	~52 h (2.2 d)	γ / EC	SPECT (theranostic)	Imaging surrogate ('image-and-treat') for Pb-212 therapy	Investigational	Cyclotron	Paired imaging isotope for Pb-212
Astatine-211 AIRAt-211	7.2 h	α	Therapy	Targeted alpha therapy (investigational)	Investigational	Cyclotron	Decay clock in hours; cyclotron-limited supply
Bismuth-213 Bi-213	45.6 min	α	Therapy	Targeted alpha therapy — leukemia, glioma	Investigational	Generator (Ac-225/Bi-213)	Ultra-short — on-site generator
Radium-224 Ra-224	3.6 d	α	Therapy	Diffusing-alpha source therapy (solid tumors); parent of Pb-212	Alpha DaRT	Reactor / source	Short multi-day window
Terbium-149 Tb-149	4.1 h	α	Therapy	Targeted alpha therapy (investigational)	Investigational	Accelerator	Very short
Brachytherapy (sealed)
Iodine-125 I-125	59.4 d	γ / EC	Brachytherapy	Prostate seed implants; eye plaques; lab assays	—	Reactor	Sealed seeds; long-lived, flexible logistics
Palladium-103 Pd-103	17 d	EC / X-ray	Brachytherapy	Prostate seed implants	—	Cyclotron / reactor	Sealed seeds
Cesium-131 Cs-131	9.7 d	EC	Brachytherapy	Prostate, brain, and other permanent-seed implants	—	Reactor	Sealed seeds; shorter half-life implants
Iridium-192 Ir-192	73.8 d	β− / γ	Brachytherapy (HDR)	High-dose-rate afterloading (gynecologic, breast, others)	—	Reactor	High-activity sealed source — strict handling
Ruthenium-106 Ru-106	373.6 d	β−	Brachytherapy	Ocular (eye) plaque brachytherapy	—	Reactor	Sealed plaque; long-lived
Cesium-137 Cs-137	30 y	β− / γ	Brachy / irradiator	Legacy brachytherapy; blood and research irradiators	—	Reactor (fission)	Long-lived high-activity sealed source — high security
Cobalt-60 Co-60	5.27 y	β− / γ	Teletherapy / sealed	Gamma-knife, teletherapy, sterilization, irradiators	—	Reactor	High-activity sealed source — high security
Generator parent / supply
Molybdenum-99 AIRMo-99	~66 h (2.75 d)	β− → Tc-99m	Supply (generator parent)	Source of Tc-99m — the linchpin of the diagnostic supply chain	Tc-99m generator	Reactor (fission)	Shipped to radiopharmacies; among isotopes Eden plans to produce in NM
Germanium-68 Ge-68	271 d	EC → Ga-68	Supply (generator parent)	Source of Ga-68 PET tracers	Ga-68 generator	Cyclotron	Long-lived; ships easily
Strontium-82 Sr-82	25.4 d	EC → Rb-82	Supply (generator parent)	Source of Rb-82 cardiac-PET generators	Rb-82 generator	Cyclotron	Shipped to cardiac-PET sites
Tungsten-188 W-188	69.4 d	β− → Re-188	Supply (generator parent)	Source of Re-188 therapy generators	Re-188 generator	Reactor	Ships well
Strontium-90 Sr-90	28.8 y	β− → Y-90	Supply (generator parent)	Source of Y-90 for therapy	Y-90 generator	Reactor (fission)	Long-lived; strict handling

Legend

Definitions for the emission, modality, and production terms used above.

Emission types

γ (gamma): Penetrating photons; detected by gamma camera for SPECT and uptake imaging.
β+ (positron): Positron emission; detected by PET scanners.
β− (beta minus): Electrons; short tissue range, used to irradiate targeted tissue in therapy.
α (alpha): Helium nuclei; very short range, very high energy — potent targeted-cancer therapy.
EC: Electron capture; often accompanies X-ray / gamma emission used for imaging.

Modality

PET: Positron Emission Tomography — diagnostic imaging.
SPECT: Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography — diagnostic imaging.
Therapy: Radionuclide therapy delivering dose to target tissue.
Brachytherapy: Sealed sources implanted in or placed near tissue.
Theranostic: An imaging / therapy isotope pair using the same targeting molecule.
Generator parent: A longer-lived isotope shipped to sites, where the short-lived medical isotope is eluted on demand.

Production source

Reactor: Made by neutron irradiation or fission in a research reactor (e.g., Mo-99, Lu-177, I-131).
Cyclotron: Made by charged-particle bombardment (e.g., F-18, Ga-68 parent, many PET tracers).
Generator: Eluted on site from a longer-lived parent (e.g., Tc-99m from Mo-99; Ga-68 from Ge-68).

Transport relevance

AIR: Decay-sensitive isotopes most regularly moved by regional air, where direct routing best protects the dose.
Class 7: All isotopes here are DOT / IATA Class 7 (radioactive) in transport, requiring will-carry hazmat authorization (OpSpec A055).
Decay clock: Short half-lives mean usable activity is lost every hour in transit — direct, single-leg, day-or-night routing protects the dose.

Disclaimer

Reference only. Half-lives are commonly cited physical values, rounded. Clinical uses and approved products are summarized and may change. Confirm current product status and exact transport requirements against primary regulatory and manufacturer sources before relying on them operationally. This page does not establish AeroAcumen's authorization to carry any specific material; acceptance is governed by the company's current will-carry hazmat authorization (OpSpec A055) and applicable 49 CFR requirements.