Uses of nuclear radiation

Question 1

What are the two uses of nuclear radiation in medecine?

Answer 1

Tracers

To destroy/control unwanted tissue

Question 2

What is a radioactive tracer?

Answer 2

A radioactive material which is attatched to a chemical which is naturally absorbed by the organ in the body being investigated

Question 3

What three things should always be considered when choosing the radiation to be used in medecine?

Answer 3

1. It should have a short half-life (so it doesn’t remain in the body for a long duration)
2. It should be weakly ionising (so it deosn’t cause cell damage)
3. It should be strongly penetrating (so it can escape the body)