Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: rubidium-82 PET: practice question

A Radiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Radiology · Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: rubidium-82 PET

Sample item

Which PET myocardial perfusion tracer is eluted from a strontium-82 generator and has a half-life of about 75 seconds?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Rubidium-82

Rubidium-82 is generator produced, so no on-site cyclotron is needed, and its very short half-life allows rapid sequential rest and stress imaging. Nitrogen-13 ammonia needs a cyclotron. Sestamibi and thallium are SPECT agents.

Option by option

  • A. Thallium-201

    Thallium-201 is a SPECT tracer with a half-life of about 73 hours.

  • B. Technetium-99m sestamibi

    Tc-99m sestamibi is a SPECT tracer with a 6-hour half-life.

  • C. Nitrogen-13 ammonia

    N-13 ammonia has a half-life of about 10 minutes and needs a cyclotron.

  • D. Rubidium-82 (correct)

    Correct. Rb-82 comes from a Sr-82 generator and decays in about 75 seconds.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is D, Rubidium-82. Rubidium-82 is generator produced, so no on-site cyclotron is needed, and its very short half-life allows rapid sequential rest and stress imaging.

Why is "Thallium-201" not the answer?

Thallium-201 is a SPECT tracer with a half-life of about 73 hours.

Why is "Technetium-99m sestamibi" not the answer?

Tc-99m sestamibi is a SPECT tracer with a 6-hour half-life.

Why is "Nitrogen-13 ammonia" not the answer?

N-13 ammonia has a half-life of about 10 minutes and needs a cyclotron.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: rubidium-82 PET in Radiology. Nitrogen-13 ammonia needs a cyclotron. Sestamibi and thallium are SPECT agents.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: rubidium-82 PET?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.