xenon Xe 127

Xenon Xe-127 is a radioactive isotope of the noble gas xenon, primarily utilized as a diagnostic imaging agent for pulmonary ventilation studies. Developed at Brookhaven National Laboratory in 1973, it was designed to offer clinical advantages over the more common Xenon Xe-133, including higher gamma photon energy (203 keV) for improved image resolution, higher counting rates, and a lower radiation dose to the patient. Its longer physical half-life of approximately 36.4 days also provides a superior shelf life for clinical facilities compared to the 5.2-day half-life of Xe-133. The gas is administered via inhalation, where its inert nature allows it to distribute through the lungs' airways and alveoli, enabling the detection of ventilation defects associated with conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary embolism via gamma scintigraphy.

Other names

xenon-127xenon127xenon 127127Xeradioactive xenon gas