Absorbed dose profiles are presented for radionuclides of frequent or potential use in radiation synovectomy, an intraarticular technique aimed at treating rheumatoid arthritis through direct and highly selective irradiation of inflamed synovium. The radionuclides investigated were 198Au, 165Dy, 32P, 186Re, 90Y, and 166Ho. These profiles reveal the absorbed dose imparted per unit activity of injected radionuclide (Gy/mCi) as a function of penetration distance (mm) to major components of the arthritic synovial joint. Their usefulness is twofold: they can be employed to select the radionuclide best suited to achieving the proper depth of penetration in tissue (approximating the thickness of the inflamed synovium) and to determine, a priori, the necessary dose of radioactivity (delivering an absorbed dose sufficient to effectively treat all the diseased tissue). The extent of radiation of other synovial joint components, such as bone and articular cartilage, and how the advancing rheumatoid arthritis can be expected to alter the extent and pattern of absorbed dose penetration in the joint are also discussed.