nuclear radiation in medicine (triple)

• Radioactive isotopes


  Used widely in medicine
• Using radioactive tracer to explore internal organs


  1. Inject patient with radioactive solution

  2. Radiation passes through body

  3. Detected by scanner

  4. Diagnose condition based on absorption
• Radioactive tracers used


  • To check thyroid function
  • To detect bone damage or tumors
• Ideal properties of radioactive tracer

  • Emits gamma or beta radiation (not strongly ionizing)
  • Does not decay into another radioactive isotope
  • Has a short half-life
• Radiotherapy


  Using ionizing radiation to destroy unwanted tissue, especially cancers
• External beam radiotherapy


  1. Radiation source outside body

  2. Gamma rays pass through body

  3. Destroy tumor but also damage healthy tissue
• Internal radiotherapy


  1. Radioactive source placed inside body

  2. Radiation targeted to tumor

  3. Less damage to healthy tissue
• Radioactive isotopes have various uses in medicine