Medical Applications of Radiochemistry

Question 1

Diagnostic uses of radiation

Answer 1

X-rays
Nuclear medicine e.g. 99mTc
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Question 2

Therapeutic uses of radiation

Answer 2

X-rays (linear accelerators)

Radioisotopes e.g. 137Cs for brachytherapy, 60Co for teletherapy

Question 3

SPECT

Answer 3

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography

Uses radionuclides that emit gamma radiation e.g. 99mTc

Question 4

PET

Answer 4

Positron Emission Tomography
Uses radionuclides that emit positrons e.g. 18F
The emitted positrons combine with electrons to produce gamma rays that travel in exactly opposite directions (“positron annihilation”)