Oxygen-15 labelled water

Oxygen-15 labelled water (also known as O-15 water or H2O-15) is a type of positron emission tomography (PET) tracer used in medical imaging. It is a radioactive isotope of oxygen, with a half-life of approximately 122 seconds.

Production

Oxygen-15 labelled water is produced by bombarding a target of nitrogen gas with protons in a cyclotron. The nitrogen-15 produced then undergoes beta decay to produce oxygen-15, which is combined with hydrogen to form water.

Use in Medical Imaging

Oxygen-15 labelled water is used in PET imaging to measure cerebral blood flow and myocardial blood flow. It is particularly useful in the study of neurological and cardiac conditions. The short half-life of oxygen-15 allows for repeated imaging in a single session, providing real-time data on blood flow and metabolism.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of using oxygen-15 labelled water is its ability to provide real-time data on blood flow and metabolism. However, its short half-life requires a nearby cyclotron for production, which can be a limitation in some settings.

Safety

As with all radioactive tracers, there are risks associated with exposure to radiation. However, the short half-life of oxygen-15 minimizes these risks.

See Also

• Positron emission tomography
• Cyclotron
• Cerebral blood flow
• Neurology
• Cardiology

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