Xenon-127m: A new radionuclide for applications in nuclear medicine Journal Article


Authors: Myers, W. G.; Dahl, J. R.; Graham, M. C.
Article Title: Xenon-127m: A new radionuclide for applications in nuclear medicine
Abstract: Xenon-127m (127mXe) emits two gamma rays in cascade, with half-life of 69.2 ± 0.9 sec. The first has the energy of 172.5 keV, and is emitted from the nucleus in 38% of the decays. The second gamma ray has the energy of 124.8 keV and is emitted from the nucleus in 69% of the disintegrations. Together they furnish 107 easily collimated gamma rays per 100 decays. Xenon-127m is generated readily by bombarding nearly saturated aqueous solutions of sodium or potassium iodide with 14-MeV protons. The 127mXe is swept out continuously, as it is produced, by bubbling helium upward through the solutions. Up to ~ 100 mci/l are obtained from the resulting mixture of gases. The 127mXe + helium is admixed with about five volumes of air (or oxygen) and then driven continuously to a scintillation camera located ~ 200 yd distant. When the mixture of gases is inhaled, high quality images of the lungs are obtained by means of an Anger scintillation camera.
Keywords: unclassified drug; image quality; lung; radioisotope; particle accelerators; half-life; normal human; human experiment; lung scintiscanning; human; priority journal; article; support, non-u.s. gov't; support, u.s. gov't, non-p.h.s.; xenon 127m; xenon radioisotopes
Journal Title: Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Volume: 31
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0161-5505
Publisher: Society of Nuclear Medicine  
Date Published: 1990-04-01
Start Page: 489
End Page: 492
Language: English
PUBMED: 2324824
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 27 January 2020 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Martin C Graham
    53 Graham
  2. Robert Dahl
    8 Dahl