What are Radioisotopes

Question 1

what are radioisotopes?

Answer 1

atoms that contain an unstable combination of neutrons and protons, or excess energy in their nucleus.

Question 2

how do radioisotopes occur?

Answer 2

1. The unstable nucleus of a radioisotope can occur naturally or as a result of artificially altering the atom.
2. by a nuclear reactor
3. cyclotron.

Question 3

what is best known example of a naturally-occurring radioisotope ?

Answer 3

uranium
uranium-“235” is less stable than is uranium-238;

Question 4

what is Radioactive decay?

Answer 4

Atoms with an unstable nucleus regain stability by shedding excess particles and energy in the form of radiation.
The process of shedding the radiation is called radioactive decay.

Question 5

what does a Half-life mean?

Answer 5

The radioactive decay process for each radioisotope is unique and is measured with a time period called a half-life.

Question 6

what does one half-life represent?

Answer 6

time it takes for half of the unstable atoms to undergo radioactive decay.

Question 7

How are radioisotopes used?

Answer 7

Radioisotopes are an essential part of radiopharmaceuticals

Question 8

which radioisotopes are suited for diagnostics?

Answer 8

radioisotopes with short half-lives - which means they decay quickly

Question 9

which radioisotopes are suited for treatment?

Answer 9

longer half-lives take more time to decay, which makes them suitable for therapeutic purposes.

Question 10

what are some names of commonly used radioisotopes? ILS

Answer 10

Iodine, luteium, samarium

Radioisotopes are used in a variety of applications in medical, industrial, and scientific fields.

Question 11

Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radiation to do what?

Answer 11

• provide information about a person’s body and the functioning of specific organs,
• or the disease state of a specific illness.
• and accurate diagnosis.
• treat diseased organs or tumours.

Question 12

how are Medical radioisotopes made?

Answer 12

By materials bombarded by neutrons in a reactor,
or by protons in an accelerator called a cyclotron.

Question 13

What are radiopharmaceuticals?

Answer 13

• “radioisotope tracer” attached to a “pharmaceutical”.
• enters the body, pharmaceutical accumulates in a organ or tumour
• The radioisotope attached to the targeting pharmaceutical undergoes decay >r adiation that can be used to diagnose or treat
• The amount of radiopharmaceutical administered : ensure the safety of each patient.

Question 14

25 different radiopharmaceuticals are routinely used in Australia’s nuclear medicine centres. Name 2 very common ones?

Answer 14

technetium-99m,
iodine-131 - Thyroid Ca

Question 15

What is Nuclear imaging ?

Answer 15

diagnostic technique that uses radioisotopes that emit gamma rays from within the body.

Question 16

what is the differed between nuclear. imaging and other imaging ?

Answer 16

significant difference between nuclear imaging and other medical imaging systems such as CT (Computed Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or X-rays.

in nuclear imaging, the source of the emitted radiation is within the body. shows cold spots and hot spots

Question 17

How does nuclear imaging work?

Answer 17

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.

• shows FUNCTION of organ ! not just anatomy etc…

Question 18

what are other types of imaging ?

Answer 18

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans: detecting cancers and examining metabolic activity in humans and animals.

Computed Tomography (CT) scans: uses special X-ray equipment to obtain image data from hundreds of different angles around, and ‘slices’ through, the body. The information is then processed to show a 3-D cross-section of body tissues and organ