Nuclear Radiation in Medicine

• What is the primary use of nuclear radiation in medicine?

  To explore internal organs and control tissue
• How are radioactive isotopes used to explore internal organs?

  Using a radioactive tracer
• What is a common application of radioactive tracers in medicine?

  Checking organ function or cancer detection
• What does a scan showing abnormal iodine absorption indicate?

  A potential thyroid condition or cancer
• What type of radiation does radioactive iodine emit?

  Gamma radiation
• Why are alpha emitters not used as tracers?

  They cannot pass out of the body
• What are the requirements for a good radioactive tracer?

  Must emit detectable radiation and have a short half-life
• Why is a short half-life important for a radioactive tracer?

  To minimize damage from prolonged decay
• What is radiotherapy used for?

  To destroy certain cancers
• What is a potential downside of radiotherapy?

  Healthy tissue may also be damaged
• How does internal radiation treatment differ from external radiation treatment?

  Internal treatment targets tumors more precisely
• What is the benefit of inserting radioactive rods into the body?

  Less damage to healthy tissue
• What are the uses of radioactive isotopes in medicine?

  • Exploring internal organs with tracers
  • Controlling or destroying unwanted tissue
  • Diagnosing conditions like cancer
• What are the key considerations when using radioactive tracers?

  • Emit detectable radiation (gamma/beta)
  • Not strongly ionizing
  • Must not decay into another isotope
  • Short half-life to minimize damage
• What is the process of using radioactive iodine for thyroid checks?

  1. Patient drinks radioactive iodine solution
  2. Iodine is absorbed by the thyroid
  3. Gamma radiation is detected to assess function
• What is the role of gamma radiation in medical imaging?

  • Passes out of the body
  • Can be detected externally
  • Useful for visualizing internal structures