radioisotopes used in medical diagnosis should have quizlet

For full treatment, see isotope: Radioactive isotopes. An overactive thyroid gland will absorb the radioactive material, which can then destroy excess thyroid tissue or any cancer of the thyroid. Administration of radioactive Na131I or Na123I salt accumulates the iodine in the thyroid gland in a few hours. Used in imaging to detect the location of the damaged heart muscle. Approved tracers are called radiopharmaceuticals since they must meet FDAs exacting standards for safety and appropriate performance for the approved clinical use. The iridium-192 wires are inserted through a catheter implanted in the space from where the tumor was removed. Clayton VIC 3168. Medical applications use artificial radioisotopes that have been produced from stable isotopes bombarded with neutrons. noninvasive methods of cancer detection and diagnoses. The information is then processed to show a 3-D cross-section of body tissues and organs. Radioisotopes are widely used to diagnose disease and as effective treatment tools. However, all of these three-dimensional imaging modalities suffer from Understand how techniques like PET, SPECT, brachytherapy, and gamma knife radiosurgery uses radioactive tracers for the diagnosis of various ailments. Radioactive tracers are made up of carrier molecules that are bonded tightly to a radioactive atom. A low dose of the radioisotope is administered to a patient. In the last 15 years, slightly modified radiolabeled glucose molecules (F-18 labeled deoxyglucose or FDG) have been shown to be the best available tracer for detecting cancer and its metastatic spread in the body. The most widely-used PET radioisotope. Other radioactive isotopes are used as tracers for diagnostic purposes as well as in research on metabolic processes. The nuclear medicine physician will select the tracer that will provide the most specific and reliable information for a patients particular problem. The isotope flows in the bloodstream; if there is less blood flow in the heart, there will be less isotope concentrated in the heart muscle. Internal radiation therapy is used when a short-lived radioisotope can be made to selectively concentrate in the organ or tissue of interest. A brief treatment of radioactive isotopes follows. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This chapter presents a brief introduction to radioisotopes, sources and types of radiation, applications, effects, and occupational protection. Radioisotopes are widely used to diagnose disease and as effective treatment tools. attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. The \(\ce{\gamma}\)-emission from the iodine localized in the thyroid gland is recorded, as shown in Fig. Canadas nuclear isotope program pioneered a new era in cancer-fighting treatments and in research and development around health care. radioisotopes used in medical diagnosis should have The adapter would allow standard clinical SPECT cameras to provide the same high resolution that currently only dedicated SPECT brain imaging systems can produce. Fig. The IAEA also prepares technical documents, guidelines and protocols on the production and QA/QC of various types of radioisotopes through coordinated research activities and technical meetings. The image reveals problem areas in the form of an abnormal concentration of glucose in the part of the organ. The catheter is removed, and no radioactive material is left in the body after the treatment. atomic age, but their use remained on the small-scale until the nuclear The Supply of Medical Radioisotopes: An Economic Diagnosis and Possible Solutions. Thus, they can ANSTO uses both of thesemethods. radioactivity appearing in the aorta as a function of time. Radioisotopes are commonly used in industrial radiography, which uses a gamma source to conduct stress testing or check the integrity of welds. Some hospitals have their own cyclotrons, which are generally used to make radiopharmaceuticals with short half-lives of seconds or minutes. Research in nuclear medicine involves developing new radio tracers as well as technologies that will help physicians produce clearer pictures. 26, 4012 (2008). If very little of the radioisotope has been taken up a cold spot will show on the screen indicating, perhaps, that blood is not getting through. Usedto study sewage and liquid waste movements. Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radiation to provide information about a person's body and the functioning of specific organs, ongoing biological processes, or the disease state of a specific illness. Radioactive iodine is used in imaging the thyroid gland. Used to measure the age of young groundwater up to 30 years old. The thyroid will normally absorb iodine to produce the iodine-containing thyroid hormones. However, such techniques are only useful for detecting late stage infections, which usually have already become difficult to treat. Other radioactive isotopes are used as tracers for diagnostic purposes as well as in research on metabolic processes. Injecting isotopes does increase radiation levels in the body for a short time, but it also saves lives through screening, diagnosis and therapy. \(\ce{Tc}\)-99m can be used to look at cardiac damage. Iodine-131 has proved effective in treating hyperthyroidism. There are legitimate concerns about possible cancer induction even by low levels of radiation exposure from cumulative medical imaging examinations, but this risk is accepted to be quite small in contrast to the expected benefit derived from a medically needed diagnostic imaging study. More than 1,800 radioactive isotopes of the various elements are known. The quality of each and every radionuclide is a key factor for its development and application in medicine or industry. those that emit \(\ce{\gamma}\)-rays, directly or indirectly, during their decay. It is envisaged that radioisotope production in these facilities will increase as lockdown measures across the globe are adjusted. Since PET is a type of nuclear medicine procedure, this means that a tiny amount of a radioactive substance, called a radiopharmaceutical (radionuclide or radioactive tracer), is used during the procedure to assist in the examination of the tissue under study. Major examples of medical imaging using external radiation sources include the following. They then reinject the blood and use a SPECT scan to follow the path of the blood in the patient. In addition to offering technical advice on the correct and effective installation and maintenance of a suitable radioisotope infrastructure, it also proposes to Member States strategies for more future-oriented plans in this area. What is Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)? Telephone: +43 (1) 2600-0, Facsimile +43 (1) 2600-7, 19982023 IAEA, All rights reserved. Radionuclides used in nuclear medicine procedures, have short half-lives. Radiologists select isotopes that exit the body quickly through excretion or that naturally decay quickly to non-radioactive isotopes. They can be measured by a suitable About 25 different radiopharmaceuticals are routinely used in Australia's nuclear medicine centres. { "24.01:_Discovery_of_Radioactivity" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24.02:_Nuclear_Decay_Processes" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24.03:_Detection_of_Radioactivity" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24.04:_Half-Life" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24.05:_Background_Radiation" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24.06:_Nuclear_Fission_Processes" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24.07:_Nuclear_Power_Generation" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24.08:_Nuclear_Fusion" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24.09:_Penetrating_Ability_of_Emissions" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24.10:_Effects_of_Radiation" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24.11:_Radioisotopes_in_Medical_Diagnosis_and_Treatment" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24.12:_PET_Scans" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()" }, { "00:_Front_Matter" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "01:_Introduction_to_Chemistry" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "02:_Matter_and_Change" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "03:_Measurements" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "04:_Atomic_Structure" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "05:_Electrons_in_Atoms" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "06:_The_Periodic_Table" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "07:_Chemical_Nomenclature" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "08:_Ionic_and_Metallic_Bonding" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "09:_Covalent_Bonding" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "10:_The_Mole" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "11:_Chemical_Reactions" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "12:_Stoichiometry" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "13:_States_of_Matter" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "14:_The_Behavior_of_Gases" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "15:_Water" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "16:_Solutions" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "17:_Thermochemistry" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "18:_Kinetics" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "19:_Equilibrium" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "20:_Entropy_and_Free_Energy" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "21:_Acids_and_Bases" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "22:_Oxidation-Reduction_Reactions" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "23:_Electrochemistry" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "24:_Nuclear_Chemistry" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "25:_Organic_Chemistry" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "26:_Biochemistry" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "zz:_Back_Matter" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()" }, 24.11: Radioisotopes in Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, [ "article:topic", "showtoc:no", "program:ck12", "license:ck12", "authorname:ck12", "source@https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-chemistry-flexbook-2.0/" ], https://chem.libretexts.org/@app/auth/3/login?returnto=https%3A%2F%2Fchem.libretexts.org%2FBookshelves%2FIntroductory_Chemistry%2FIntroductory_Chemistry_(CK-12)%2F24%253A_Nuclear_Chemistry%2F24.11%253A_Radioisotopes_in_Medical_Diagnosis_and_Treatment, \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}}}\) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\), Radioisotopes in Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, source@https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-chemistry-flexbook-2.0/, status page at https://status.libretexts.org. 60, 226 8.6.2 compares the PET image of a healthy brain versus a brain with Alzheimer's disease. For therapy, radioactive materials are used to kill cancerous tissue, shrink a tumor or reduce pain. Recently, a PET probe was approved by the FDA to aid in the accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, which previously could be diagnosed with accuracy only after a patient's death. This branch of medical science uses radioactive sources, atoms and molecules to diagnose, characterize and treat disease. Meghana Golla. This molecule regulates how the body uses energy. A person with this disease feels tired all the time and often puts on weight. Legal. Radioisotopes are also used by industry for gauging (to measure levels of liquid inside containers, for example) or to measure the thickness of materials. Neutron Activation Analysis and Neutron irradiation, http://medicarestatistics.humanservices.gov.au/statistics/mbs_group.jsp. When illuminated with infrared (IR) radiation of the energy matching with the energy gap between the two groups, the hydrogen atoms are excited from the lower to higher energy state. The cameras are mounted on a rotating gantry that allows the detectors to be moved in a tight circle around a patient who is lying motionless on a pallet. The production of radioisotopes used in medicine has continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, but hospitals could face shortages due to bottlenecks in transport and distribution. The main difference between nuclear imaging and other imaging systems is that,in nuclear imaging, the source of the emitted radiation is within the body. What is Positron Emission Tomography (PET)? Decay of 131I and 123I involves \(\ce{\gamma}\)-emission. Medical scans like SPECT then pick up the glow of When a small dose of radioactive iodine I-131 (an isotope of iodine that emits radiation) is swallowed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Used to treat a variety of cancers, including neuroendocrine tumours and prostate cancer. These carrier molecules vary greatly depending on the purpose of the scan. Many other examples could be presented. In the absence of this PET imaging test, Alzheimer's disease can be difficult to distinguish from vascular dementia or other forms of dementia that affect older people. One half-life is the time it takes for half of the unstable atoms to undergo radioactive decay. Nuclear imaging shows the position and concentration of the radioisotope. The 3D images are computer generated from a large number of projection images of the body recorded at different angles. Only hydrogen-3 (tritium), however, is a radioactive isotope; the other two are stable. The natural and artificial sources of radiations are discussed with special reference to natural radioactive decay series and artificial radioisotopes. Plutonium-239. The IAEA is working to assess the present need of medical radioisotopes, as most research and education activities using isotopes have been put on hold and many hospitals have delayed diagnosis applications. What are nuclear medicine scans used for? Hypothyroidism is treated withthyroid hormone supplements. Cosmic radiation from the Sun and other stars is a source of background radiation on Earth. Nuclear technology saves lives through use of isotopes for screening, diagnosis and therapy of a wide variety of medical conditions. Used to date layers of sand and soil laid down up to 80 years ago. Radioactive isotopes have many useful applications. The purpose of radiation therapy is to selective kill the diseased cells or tissues by exposing them to radiation. In certain cases radiation can be used to treat diseased organs or tumours. Of the 118 elements listed in the periodic table, only 94 occur naturally. In Canada, this means about 760,000 diagnostic procedures and 76,000 radiation therapy procedures each year. This blood test indicates your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. Radioisotopes are used in a variety of ways in industry to improve productivity and, in some cases, to gain information that cannot be obtained in any other way. Technetium-99m is perhaps the most widely used radioisotope in diagnosis and treatment (the "m" stands for metastable). Several The decay of the excited state emits the IR radiations that are recorded to obtain the image of soft tissues that contain many hydrogen atoms in the form of water molecules. Also used to trace factory waste causing ocean pollution, and to study sewage and liquid waste movements. Approximately 50 of these are found in nature; the rest are produced artificially as the direct products of nuclear reactions or indirectly as the radioactive descendants of these products. NIBIB is currently supporting research to develop a new family of PET imaging contrast agents that are taken up specifically by bacterial cells, but not human cells. For diagnosis, the isotope is administered, and then located in the body using a scanner of some sort. Used in imaging to detect tumours and infections. This happened as new advances are quickly being made in the field of targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Every chemical element has one or more radioactive isotopes. are short-lived or can be excreted from the body after use. The LibreTexts libraries arePowered by NICE CXone Expertand are supported by the Department of Education Open Textbook Pilot Project, the UC Davis Office of the Provost, the UC Davis Library, the California State University Affordable Learning Solutions Program, and Merlot. The energy emitted by these radioactive substances can be detected using special cameras and imaging software that helps evaluate organ size, location, and function. For example, technetium-99m, one of the most common medical isotopes used for imaging studies, has a half-life of 6 hours. Used to trace sand movement in river beds and on ocean floors, and to trace sand to study coastal erosion. \[\ce{_9^18F -> _8^18O + _{1}^{0}{e}} + \gamma\nonumber\], \[\ce{_{1}^{0}{e} + _{1}^{0}{e} ->} 2\gamma\nonumber\]. The 18F emits a positron, which, being an anti-particle of the electron, reacts with the electron and produces two g \(\ce{\gamma}\)-rays. The table lists some naturally occurring radioactive isotopes. After processing, the resulting molybdenum-99 precursor is removed and placed into devices called technetium generators,where the molybdenum-99 decaysto technetium-99m. Worldwide there are more than 40million medical procedures performed each year using isotopes, with about 36million for diagnostic nuclear medicine and fourmillion for radiation therapy. Radioactive isotopes and radioactively labelled molecules are used as tracers to identify abnormal bodily processes. These tests are used to check how For example, 40 or more titanium capsules, about the size of a rice grain (Fig. The major purpose of PET scans is to detect cancer and monitor its progression, response to treatment, and to detect metastases. Radiated food can be safely stored for a longer time because radiation 15. SPECT agents have recently become available for aiding in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in the brain, and distinguishing this malady from other anatomically-related movement disorders and dementias. Used in a variety of research and diagnostic applications, including the labelling of glucose (as fluorodeoxyglucose) to detect brain tumours via increased glucose metabolism. With the development of Canadian radioisotopes, the cure rate for cervical cancer increased from 25percent to 75percent. This radioisotope accounts for approximately 80% of all nuclear medicine procedures. Click here to watch a short video about how PET scans work. PET scans also use radiopharmaceuticals to create three-dimensional images. How are NIBIB-funded researchers advancing nuclear medicine? In most casesthe information is used by physicians to make an accurate diagnosis. Optical imaging is an important field in cancer Today, radioisotopes are used both diagnostically and therapeutically in medicine. A small amount of short-lived, positron-emitting radioactive isotope is injected into the body on a carrier molecule such as glucose. Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that uses radioactive tracers (radiopharmaceuticals) to assess bodily functions and to diagnose and treat disease. Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography or SPECT and Positron Emission Tomography or PET scans are the two most common imaging modalities in nuclear medicine. A widely-used nuclear imaging technique for detecting cancers and examining metabolic activity in humans and animals. Used in PET scans as a blood flow tracer and in cardiac studies. catching small numbers of cancer cells. Aside from research reactors and accelerators, they are also obtained from radioisotope generators. It was the end of an era for medical isotope production in Canada. world's radioactive isotopes in nuclear medicine, 90% of which is used The tracer that is used determines whether the patient receives a SPECT or PET scan. For example, Fig. There is a significant difference between nuclear imaging and other medical imaging systems such as CT (Computed Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or X-rays. Different isotopes of the same element have the same number of protons in their atomic nuclei but differing numbers of neutrons. They also may be employed in place of large X-ray machines to examine manufactured metal parts for structural defects. The short half-life of technetium-99m helps keep the dose to the patient low. As the lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic around the world affects the delivery of goods and services, the IAEA recently conducted a survey among major reactor-based medical radioisotope producers to assess the continuity of the supply chain. Brachytherapy. South Africa is among the major producers of medical radioisotopes, supplying clients all around the world. Question:Radioisotopes used in medical diagnosis should have A. short half-lives and be quickly eliminated from the body B. short half-lives and be slowly eliminated from the body C. long half-lives and be quickly eliminated from the body D. long half-lives and be slowly eliminated from the body This problem has been solved! ame high resolution that currently only dedicated SPECT brain imaging systems can produce. Canada relies on both domestic production and the global supply chain to provide medical isotopes to our hospitals. They can also be defined as atoms that contain an unstable combination of neutrons and protons, orexcessenergy in their nucleus. therapeutic use, mainly for killing cancerous cells. The generator remains effective for several days of use and is then returned to ANSTO for replenishment. Also used to detect heart problems and diagnose certain types of cancer. [5]. CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), which is used in positron emission tomography(PET) scans, has a half-life of about 110 minutes. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. One example of a diagnostic application is using radioactive iodine-131 to test for thyroid activity (Figure 15.3 "Medical Diagnostics"). In industry, radioactive isotopes of various kinds are used for measuring the thickness of metal or plastic sheets; their precise thickness is indicated by the strength of the radiations that penetrate the material being inspected. Hospitals also use colbalt-60 to sterilize medical equipment, including gowns, gloves, masks, syringes and implants. Used in the treatment of excess red blood cells. The wires are removed after delivering the required radiation dose. Radioisotopes are an effective tool used in radiopharmaceutical sciences, industrial applications, environmental tracing and biological studies. The landscape of medical isotope production in Canada is diverse, due in part to the long-standing and world-class research into reactor and accelerator technologies. . Thus, contrast agents and Nuclear medicine vs common imaging procedures using x-rays: how they work However, the sensitivity of the tumor imaging Also used to trace sand to study coastal erosion. Radiation is easily traceable and can cause changes in the substance it falls upon. The \(\ce{\gamma}\)-rays cross over the body and are recorded like X-rays. Medical isotopes support about 8,500 jobs in the nuclear industry across Canada. advancing field that bears promise. For diagnosis, the isotope is administered, and then located in the body using a scanner of some sort. Radioisotopes in Science and Medicine (University of Chicago Press, Used in neutron gauging and smoke detectors. 8.6.3. Conversely, medical devices may be needlessly removed when doctors mistake inflammation that is a normal consequence of surgery with inflammation due to an infection. The thyroid gland in the neck is one of the few places in the body with a significant concentration of iodine. benign tumors and other infectious processes. A radiopharmaceutical is given orally, injected or inhaled, and is detected by a gamma camera which is used to create a computer-enhanced image that can be viewed by the physician. One way of artificially inducing nuclear transmutation is by bombarding stable isotopes with alpha particles. Other commonly-used radiopharmaceuticalscan be found in the lists below.