Gallium-67

Gallium-67 (Ga-67) is a radioisotope of the element gallium. It is a non-natural isotope that is produced in a nuclear reactor and is used in the field of nuclear medicine for diagnostic imaging.

Production

Gallium-67 is produced by the irradiation of zinc in a nuclear reactor. The zinc is first converted into germanium by neutron capture, and then decays into gallium-67 through beta decay.

Properties

Gallium-67 has a half-life of about 78 hours. It decays by emitting gamma rays, which can be detected by a gamma camera to create images of the body. The energy of these gamma rays is relatively low, which makes them suitable for imaging soft tissues.

Medical Use

In nuclear medicine, Gallium-67 is used in a procedure known as a Gallium scan. This involves injecting the patient with a small amount of the radioisotope, which then accumulates in areas of the body where there is increased metabolic activity, such as tumors or infections. The gamma rays emitted by the gallium-67 are then detected by a gamma camera, which creates an image of the body that can be used to diagnose various conditions.

Gallium-67 is particularly useful for imaging lymphoma, lung infections, and abscesses. It is also used in the diagnosis of fever of unknown origin, as areas of infection will show up clearly on the scan.

Safety

As with all radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine, there are risks associated with the use of gallium-67. However, the amount used in a gallium scan is very small, and the benefits of the diagnostic information obtained usually outweigh the risks. Patients are always carefully monitored during and after the procedure to ensure their safety.

See Also

• Gallium
• Nuclear medicine
• Radioisotope
• Gamma camera
• Gallium scan