Indium-111
Indium-111 is a radioactive diagnostic radiopharmaceutical used in nuclear medicine imaging. It is typically bound to specific compounds (such as white blood cells or tumor-targeting agents) and administered intravenously to detect infections, inflammatory conditions, and certain tumors. The gamma radiation emitted allows external imaging of metabolic activity within the body.
Indium-111 is a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical used for nuclear imaging to detect infections, inflammation, or tumors.
Key facts at a glance
- RxNorm
- 90540
- Generic
- Indium-111
- Class
- pin-variant
- Brands
- —
- Availability
- rx
- Lactation
- unknown
- Routes
- —
- Forms
- —
- Regions
- US, EU, CN, JP
- Monitoring
- —
This page is for informational purposes only.
Do not use this information to diagnose yourself or to replace a physician's advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call your local emergency number immediately.
Indium-111 is used to image infections and inflammatory conditions when bound to white blood cells, to detect deep vein thrombosis and other thrombotic conditions when bound to platelets, to image certain neuroendocrine tumors and melanoma when bound to octreotide analogs, and in cardiac imaging studies such as ventriculography.
Indium-111 decays by electron capture, emitting gamma radiation detectable by external gamma cameras. When bound to biological molecules like white blood cells or peptides, it acts as a radioactive tracer that accumulates at sites of interest (infection, inflammation, or tumor), allowing diagnostic imaging of metabolic and pathological processes.
Indium-111 has a physical half-life of approximately 2.8 days and emits both 171 keV and 245 keV gamma photons. It is administered exclusively by trained nuclear medicine personnel and requires appropriate radiation safety precautions. Patients should be informed about radiation exposure, and administration during pregnancy or breastfeeding is generally contraindicated unless absolutely necessary.
Official drug label
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 28, 2026. · Read our editorial policy