gallium

gallium /gal·li·um/ (Ga) (gal´e-um) a chemical element, at. no. 31. The nitrate salt is an inhibitor of bone calcium resorption and is used to treat cancer-related hypercalcemia.

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gallium Ga 67 citrate  a radiopharmaceutical imaging agent used to image neoplasms, particularly of soft tissues, and sites of inflammation and abscess.

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gal·li·um (gl-m)

n. Symbol Ga

A rare metallic element that is liquid near room temperature and is found as a trace element in coal, bauxite, and other minerals. Atomic number 31.

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Gallium

A form of radionuclide that is used to help locate tumors and inflammation (specifically referred to as GA67 citrate).

Mentioned in: Gallium Scan of the Body

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gallium (Ga)

[gal′ē·əm]

Etymology: L, Gallia, Gaul

a metallic element. Its atomic number is 31, and its atomic mass is 69.72. The melting point of gallium is 29.8° C (88.6° F); it will melt if held in the hand. Because of its high boiling point (1983° C; 3602° F), it is used in high-temperature thermometers. Radioisotopes of gallium are used in total body scanning procedures. Many of its compounds are poisonous.

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gallium (gal´ēm),

n a metallic element with an atomic number of 31 and an atomic weight of 69.72. It is used in high-temperature thermometers, and its radioisotopes are used in total-body scanning procedures.

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gallium

a chemical element, atomic number 31, atomic weight 69.72, symbol Ga. See Table 6.

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gallium-67

a radioisotope of gallium having a half-life of 78.1 hours; used in the imaging of soft tissue tumors.

gallium nitrate

used in the treatment of hypercalcemia.

gallium scan

a nuclear medicine procedure using the radioisotope gallium-67 in the form of gallium citrate. Gallium has a high affinity for certain tumors and also for non-neoplastic lesions, such as abscesses. Gallium scans are particularly useful in the staging of lymphomas, and in localizing occult abscesses.