Strontium-85 is an
isotope that is commonly used in
nuclear medicine for studying
bone structure,
metabolism and is useful for
diagnosing bone
lesions, since it is chemically similar to
Calcium. One mode of administration is injection of a compound,
Strontium-85 Chloride, into the
bloodstream which is mostly absorbed by the bones in a matter of hours.
Using procedures like Radionuclide angiography and Tissue Phase Imaging, doctors can image areas of the bone structure that are metabolizing much more rapidly than others, thus pinpointing where cases of bone cancer (Osteosarcoma) or benign bone tumors (Osteoid Osteoma) have occured.
Strontium-85 has a half-life of 64.84 days and decays through electron capture.