Pertechnetate
Pertechnetate, TcO4-, is the universal starting material for the synthesis of 99mTechnetium radiopharmaceuticals.
It is produced from so-called technetium generators in which the parent isotope 99Mo, on an alumina chromatography column, decays to the gamma emmitting daughter nuclide 99mTc.
In the clinics, 99mTcO4- is eluted from such systems with an isotonic sodium chloride solution and is then converted to radiopharmaceuticals.
The 99mTcO4- ion has an ionic radius similar to that of iodide, for which reason it accumulates in the thyroid gland and can be used for thyroid gland scintigraphy.
Scintigraphic depiction of a thyroid gland enlarged on one side with 99mTcO4-