How are radiopharmaceuticals typically administered to patients?

Radiopharmaceuticals are typically administered to patients through various routes that ensure the effective delivery of the radioactive material for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The most common methods are intravenous injection, oral ingestion, or inhalation.

Intravenous injection allows for rapid distribution of the radiopharmaceutical throughout the body, making it particularly useful for imaging and therapeutic applications where immediate systemic exposure is necessary. Oral ingestion is often used for radiopharmaceuticals designed for gastrointestinal studies, allowing for targeted imaging of the digestive system. Inhalation is utilized for radiopharmaceuticals targeting pulmonary conditions, enabling them to reach the lungs directly.

The flexibility in administration routes helps accommodate different clinical scenarios and the specific needs of the patient, ensuring optimal imaging or treatment outcomes. The options of topical application, subcutaneous injection, and dermal absorption are generally not suitable for radiopharmaceuticals as they do not allow for the controlled and systemic administration of radioactive materials needed for effective diagnostics or therapy.