TS ISO 12749-6

TS ISO 12749-6 is the vocabulary standard in the nuclear energy, nuclear technologies and radiological protection series that focuses on nuclear medicine. It gathers the concepts used in diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine under a common terminology, helping clinicians, radiopharmacy specialists and medical physicists use the same terms with the same meaning.

How nuclear medicine concepts are organised

This part provides the minimum essential information for nuclear medicine concepts represented by a single term, including definitions, notes to entry and examples where applicable. As a vocabulary standard, its purpose is not to specify a device, a dose limit or a procedural protocol, but to make interdisciplinary communication clearer and more consistent. Nuclear medicine is the multidisciplinary field that uses radioactive materials for diagnostic imaging, functional assessment and selected therapeutic applications, combining clinical, physical and radiopharmaceutical perspectives.

What this vocabulary adds in practice

The terms and definitions in the document help distinguish conceptual differences between clinical use and technical preparation. In nuclear medicine, core concepts such as radiopharmaceutical, imaging agent, target tissue, activity, half-life and imaging procedure carry distinct technical meanings; a vocabulary document harmonises those meanings and reduces misunderstandings. In this way, the standard supports consistent language in education, documentation, reporting and multidisciplinary workflows.

Its scope is limited to frequently used nuclear medicine concepts and should be read as a terminology reference rather than a procedural manual. Its value lies in the clarity and consistency of the concepts it defines, not in prescribing detailed practice requirements.