Question

Do a google search and find out at least one way radioactive isotopes are used in a medical setting to diagnose or treat a disease in a patient. Write the details about that radioactive isotope and how does it work. What is the half life of this radioactive isotope? Cite the references.

Answer 1

Radioactive isotopes can be used to diagnose or treat an abnormal condition in a person.
Radiation therapy by gamma rays has been extensively used to kill cancer cells.
Radioisotopes are also used to sterilize surgical instruments.

Mechanism of function:
1. They emit tractable radiation which helps them to use as probes.
2. High energy radiation emitted by nuclides can be used to kill harmful cancerous cells.

Techniques based on radioisotopes:
1. X-ray
2. CT scan
3. PET scan

The half-life of radio-isotopes used in medicine:
1. Tc-99 = 6 hrs
It is used to image heart muscle, lungs, liver, and brain

2. Mb-99 = 66 hrs
It produces Tc-99

3. Co-60 = 5.26 yrs
Used in cancer therapy

4. I-131 = 8.02 days
Used in thyroid therapy

References:
1. Molecular imaging of cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction.
Curley D, Lavin Plaza B, Shah AM, Botnar RM.

2. New radioactive tracer methods in clinical medicine.
Belcher EH.

3. Radioisotope scanning in internal medicine.
Ephraïm KH.