Iodine-123

Iodine-123
General
Symbol123I
Namesiodine-123,
radioiodine
Protons (Z)53
Neutrons (N)70
Nuclide data
Natural abundance0
Half-life (t1/2)13.2232(15) h
Isotope mass122.9055898(40) Da
Parent isotopes123Xe
Decay products123Te
Decay modes
Decay modeDecay energy (MeV)
electron capture0.159 (159 keV)
Isotopes of iodine
Complete table of nuclides

Iodine-123 (123I) is a radioactive isotope of iodine used in nuclear medicine imaging, including single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or SPECT/CT exams. The isotope's half-life is 13.2232 hours; the decay by electron capture to tellurium-123 emits gamma radiation with a predominant energy of 159 keV (this is the gamma primarily used for imaging). In medical applications, the radiation is detected by a gamma camera. The isotope is typically applied as iodide-123, the anionic form.