What is the half-life range for confirming the radionuclide identity of FDG?

The half-life of a radionuclide is a critical parameter in nuclear medicine, particularly for substances used in imaging studies such as fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), which is commonly utilized in PET scans. For FDG, the radionuclide in question is fluorine-18 (F-18), which has a half-life of about 110 minutes.

This half-life allows sufficient time for the radioactivity of FDG to decay to a measurable level, enabling accurate identification and quantification in a clinical setting. The relatively short half-life is also advantageous because it minimizes radiation exposure to patients while still providing a sufficient window for imaging.

When considering the specified range, the correct option aligns with the characteristics of F-18, confirming its identity based on established half-life measurements. Understanding this half-life is essential for those in the nuclear medicine field, as it impacts not only the timing of imaging procedures but also safety protocols and the management of radioactive materials.