Topic > Radioisotopes and Their Medical Uses - 892

A radioisotope is an isotope that emits radiation because it has nuclear instability (prostate cancer; fusion imaging helps detect larger doses of radiation). Those who are not very familiar with radioisotopes might think that the use is for harmful radiation, nuclear weapons, and the ability to transform into a giant rampaging green monster. However, there are much more positive uses for radioisotopes. There have been many advances in the medical field due to the benefits and practice of radioisotopes in nuclear medicine. These advances have made it possible to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases. It was 1939 when the use of radioisotope in medical clinics began. This radioisotope was iodine-131 and was used in thyroid investigations. Iodine-131 was later also used to treat hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. After the successful use of this radioisotope, other radioactive isotopes became accessible (Keevil). Technetium-99m was used in an imaging demonstration in 1964. As a result of its favorable physical and chemical properties, it quickly became one of the most widely used radioisotopes for nuclear medical procedures (Keevil). This radioisotope can be found in nuclear medicine procedures involving diagnostics of the heart, kidneys, lungs, liver, spleen, bones and blood flow (GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy). Radioisotopes have helped create advanced imaging techniques. Previously, X-rays could only provide some information such as broken bones, abnormal growths, and the location of foreign bodies in the body. Now you can get much more information from medical imaging. Not only can this advanced imaging provide images of tiny structures in the body, but it can also provide details such as cancer cells and damaged heart tissue from a heart… middle of paper… b. 2010: 353. eLibrary. Network. December 15, 2013."Imaging and radiology." Magill's Medical Guide, 4th Rev. ed. 2008. eLibrary. Network. December 16, 2013.Keevil, F, Stephen.. “Physics and Medicine 1: Physics and Medicine: A Historical Perspective.” Lancet 9825(2012):1517. eLibrary. Network. December 15, 2013.""Magic bullets" against diseases." World Year of Book Science. 2009. eLibrary. Network. December 17, 2013. "Medical Research 2005: Seeing Under Our Skin: Imagining the Body." World Year of Book Science. 2009. eLibrary. Network. December 16, 2013."Prostate cancer; fusion imaging helps target higher doses of radiation to prostate cancer cells." Cancerweekly Plus. October 21, 2003: 147.eLibrary. Network. 16 December 2013. "Use of monoclonal antibodies". Hutchinson Encyclopedia. 2011. eLibrary. Network. December 17, 2013."What are the treatments for cancer?" ADAM Life's greatest mysteries. 2001. eLibrary. Network. December 17. 2013.