Rubidium-82: positron emission tomography

Fig. 2.1 Normal myocardial perfusion by positron emission tomography using Rubidium ( Rb) at rest and after dipyridamole stress in 3D views. Coronary arterial...

The radioactive isotope rubidium 82—another photon emitter—is also finding a useful niche in diagnostic medicine. As the tracer in PET (positron emission tomography) scans, rubidium is cheaper than the more commonly used ammonia, which must be produced in a particle accelerator. Combined with a CTscan that helps visualize blood flow, this method is currently the most accurate when imaging blood flow restrictions that may lead to cardiac arrest. 

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The isotopes of rubidium have been of value in medicine for over two decades as tracers for coronary collated and renal blood flow tests [8,9]. More recently, they have been used with noninvasive positron emission tomography to evaluate brain function [10] and in similar studies of heart and brain [11,12]. 

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