a radiopharmaceutical composition comprising a radiopharmaceutical agent and salicylic acid or a salt thereof is disclosed . also disclosed is a method of protecting a radiopharmaceutical agent comprising adding salicylic acid or a salt thereof to the radiopharmaceutical agent . the use of salicylic acid or a salt thereof as a radioprotecting agent provides for a high degree of protection against radiolysis while at the same time minimizing the impurities in the resulting radiopharmaceutical formulation .