Technetium[99mTc]Pentetate

General Description

Technetium (^99mTc)pentetate (^99mTc DTPA) is a complex between DTPA andtechnetium-99m. The precise structure of Tc-99m pentetateis unknown; evidence suggests the central metal atommay be at a +4 oxidation state.The clinical indicationsfor this agent are renal imaging, renal functional studies(perfusion and GFR), and brain imaging. An additionalclinical use of 99mTc DTPA is as an aerosol for pulmonarystudies.
The complex is formed when sodium pertechnetate(^99mTc) is added to a shielded vial containing DTPA (or apentasodium or a calcium trisodium salt thereof) with orwithout an antioxidant and a stannous salt. Recommendedincubations times vary from a few minutes up to 15 minutesin length, and the shelf life is between 6 and 12 hoursdepending on the absence or presence of an antioxidant,respectively.