Sodium pertechnetate

Sodium pertechnetate is a chemical compound with the formula NaTcO4. It is a salt of pertechnetate, the anion derived from technetium, the lightest unstable element. Sodium pertechnetate is used in various medical applications, particularly in nuclear medicine for diagnostic purposes.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The term "sodium pertechnetate" is derived from its chemical constituents: "sodium", a chemical element with the symbol Na (from Latin "natrium"); and "pertechnetate", an anion derived from technetium, the lightest unstable element. The "per-" prefix in "pertechnetate" indicates that the technetium is in its highest oxidation state.

Chemical Properties[edit | edit source]

Sodium pertechnetate is a salt that is highly soluble in water. It is typically prepared by the oxidation of technetium-99m, a metastable nuclear isomer of technetium-99. The compound is colorless and odorless, and it has a strong affinity for thyroid tissue, making it useful in medical imaging.

Medical Applications[edit | edit source]

In nuclear medicine, sodium pertechnetate is used as a diagnostic tool. It is administered to patients in order to visualize the structure and function of the thyroid gland. The compound is taken up by the thyroid tissue, and its distribution can be imaged using a gamma camera. This allows for the detection of abnormalities such as thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer.

Sodium pertechnetate is also used in the diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum, a congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract. The compound is taken up by the gastric mucosa in the diverticulum, allowing it to be visualized on a gamma camera.

Related Terms[edit | edit source]

See Also[edit | edit source]

Sodium pertechnetate Resources
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