In nuclear medicine, what is often used as a radiotracer for thyroid imaging?

Iodine-123 is indeed the radiotracer commonly used for thyroid imaging in nuclear medicine. This isotope is particularly effective because it mimics the natural behavior of iodine in the body, making it a suitable choice for imaging the thyroid gland. The thyroid absorbs iodine to produce thyroid hormones, so when Iodine-123 is administered, it is specifically taken up by the thyroid tissue. This allows for clear imaging of thyroid function and anatomy, which is essential in diagnosing conditions such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroid nodules.

The other isotopes mentioned have different primary applications in nuclear medicine. For instance, Technetium-99m is widely used for a variety of other imaging studies, including bone scans and cardiac imaging, but it is not specifically targeted for thyroid imaging. Gallium-67 is used primarily in oncology and infectious disease imaging. Carbon-11 is more often used in research settings, particularly in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, rather than in routine thyroid studies.