technetium Tc-99m heparin

Technetium Tc-99m heparin is a radiopharmaceutical diagnostic agent composed of the gamma-emitting radionuclide technetium-99m (Tc-99m) complexed with heparin, a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan. This agent is primarily utilized in nuclear medicine for the scintigraphic detection and localization of acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other thromboembolic disorders. The diagnostic utility relies on the inherent affinity of heparin for fibrin and actively forming thrombi, where it binds to antithrombin III and remains localized at the site of the clot. Following intravenous administration, the Tc-99m label allows for external imaging via gamma cameras. While it has been extensively studied for thrombus imaging, it remains largely an investigational tool or a specialized diagnostic rather than a first-line clinical standard in modern radiology, often superseded by ultrasound or other radiolabeled agents like Tc-99m apcitide.

Other names

Tc-99m heparinTc99m heparinTc 99m heparin99mTc-heparintechnetium (99mTc) heparin