Iofetamine (123I)

Iofetamine (123I) is a radioactive isotope used in nuclear medicine for the purpose of brain imaging. It is also known by its brand name, Neurolite. This radiopharmaceutical is used primarily in the detection and diagnosis of certain brain disorders, such as stroke and dementia.

Chemistry

Iofetamine (123I) is a lipophilic amine that is labeled with iodine-123, a radioactive isotope of iodine. The iodine-123 isotope decays by electron capture to an excited state of tellurium-123. The excited state of tellurium-123 then emits gamma rays, which are detected by a gamma camera to create an image of the brain.

Medical Use

In medical practice, Iofetamine (123I) is used as a radiotracer in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans of the brain. The compound is injected into the patient's bloodstream, where it crosses the blood-brain barrier and distributes in the brain according to regional blood flow. The gamma rays emitted by the decaying iodine-123 are then detected by a gamma camera, which generates a three-dimensional image of the brain's blood flow.

This imaging technique is particularly useful in the diagnosis of conditions that affect the brain's blood flow, such as stroke and dementia. It can also be used to detect brain tumors and to evaluate the effects of treatments on brain function.

Safety

As with all radiopharmaceuticals, there are risks associated with the use of Iofetamine (123I). These include the potential for allergic reactions and the risks associated with exposure to radiation. However, the benefits of accurate diagnosis and treatment generally outweigh these risks.

See Also

• Iodine-123
• Radiopharmaceutical
• Single-photon emission computed tomography
• Stroke
• Dementia