Which radioisotope is used heavily in nuclear medicine NAME THEM?
- Technetium-99m (Tc-99m): This is the most widely used radioisotope in nuclear medicine, and is used in a variety of procedures including bone scans, heart scans, and brain scans. Tc-99m is produced by a molybdenum-99/technetium-99m generator, which allows for easy and convenient access to the radioisotope.
- Iodine-131 (I-131): This radioisotope is used in the treatment of thyroid cancer and other thyroid disorders. I-131 is taken up by the thyroid gland, where it emits radiation that destroys thyroid tissue.
- Thallium-201 (Tl-201): This radioisotope is used in heart scans to assess blood flow to the heart muscle. Tl-201 is taken up by heart muscle cells, and the amount of uptake can indicate areas of reduced blood flow.
- Gallium-67 (Ga-67): This radioisotope is used in infection imaging and tumor imaging. Ga-67 is taken up by infected or inflamed tissue, and by some types of tumors.
- Fluorine-18 (F-18): This radioisotope is used in positron emission tomography (PET) scans, which are used to visualize metabolic activity in the body. F-18 is incorporated into various molecules, such as glucose, and can be used to track metabolic processes in the body.
These are just a few examples of the many radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine. The choice of radioisotope for a particular procedure depends on the specific diagnostic or therapeutic goal.