What is the half-life of N13 ammonia?

The half-life of N-13 ammonia is indeed 10 minutes. This relatively short half-life is significant in the context of radiopharmacy and nuclear medicine, where rapid decay of radiopharmaceuticals affects both the timing of imaging procedures and patient safety. N-13 ammonia is commonly used in positron emission tomography (PET) for assessing myocardial perfusion due to its favorable properties, including its ability to be rapidly incorporated into cellular metabolism.

Understanding the half-life is crucial for proper dosage calculations, timing of administration related to imaging protocols, and ensuring that the radiopharmaceutical is within its effective operational range during the imaging process. The selection of N-13 as a tracer in certain medical applications hinges on this precise half-life, facilitating both patient safety through reduced radiation exposure and accurate diagnostic imaging.