Radioisotopes in Medicine
RADIOISOTOPES IN MEDICINE
ABSTRACT:
Nuclear medicine has become fundamentally life-saving as a diagnostic tool in today’s medicine, however exposure to radioisotopes has risks. Understanding these risks and making an educated decision is crucial in personal choices regarding medical treatment. This overview of recent and relevant research provides an insight and support to the benefits of radioisotope usage, whilst presenting the associated risks.
INTRODUCTION:
With the discovery of radioisotopes in 1934, and the production of radionuclides in 1946, the world has witnessed a major growth and evolution in the field of Nuclear Medicine. (Mandal, 2012) This specialty field utilises radionuclides for the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of disease. The process involves administering radioactive materials to the patient, with the ability to localize this material to a specific organ. (Department of Nuclear Medicine - Austin Hospital, 2007) This then allows the specialists to map an organ’s cellular function, instead of the physical changes in it’s tissue which more traditional imaging techniques such as X-ray reveal. (DNM, 2007)
Although being highly effective in its application, the use of radioactive substances poses an inherent risk to both the patient, health professionals, and on a broader scale, the environment. This article discusses the implications of nuclear medicine and evaluates the dangers associated with it.
ISOTOPES: WHAT ARE THEY? Many of the known chemical elements have a number of isotopes. (Gothard, 2004) Isotopes can be referred to as a ‘species’ of the base element, however, unlike elements, they feature a differing mass number, meaning the amount of protons and neutrons is imbalanced. (Gothard, 2004) Sometimes, an isotope exists with an unstable nucleus, spontaneously emitting excess energy through radiation known as alpha (α) particles, beta (β) particles or gamma (?) rays. (Figure 1) (Mandal, 2012)
ABSTRACT:
Nuclear medicine has become fundamentally life-saving as a diagnostic tool in today’s medicine, however exposure to radioisotopes has risks. Understanding these risks and making an educated decision is crucial in personal choices regarding medical treatment. This overview of recent and relevant research provides an insight and support to the benefits of radioisotope usage, whilst presenting the associated risks.
INTRODUCTION:
With the discovery of radioisotopes in 1934, and the production of radionuclides in 1946, the world has witnessed a major growth and evolution in the field of Nuclear Medicine. (Mandal, 2012) This specialty field utilises radionuclides for the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of disease. The process involves administering radioactive materials to the patient, with the ability to localize this material to a specific organ. (Department of Nuclear Medicine - Austin Hospital, 2007) This then allows the specialists to map an organ’s cellular function, instead of the physical changes in it’s tissue which more traditional imaging techniques such as X-ray reveal. (DNM, 2007)
Although being highly effective in its application, the use of radioactive substances poses an inherent risk to both the patient, health professionals, and on a broader scale, the environment. This article discusses the implications of nuclear medicine and evaluates the dangers associated with it.
ISOTOPES: WHAT ARE THEY? Many of the known chemical elements have a number of isotopes. (Gothard, 2004) Isotopes can be referred to as a ‘species’ of the base element, however, unlike elements, they feature a differing mass number, meaning the amount of protons and neutrons is imbalanced. (Gothard, 2004) Sometimes, an isotope exists with an unstable nucleus, spontaneously emitting excess energy through radiation known as alpha (α) particles, beta (β) particles or gamma (?) rays. (Figure 1) (Mandal, 2012)