What are the medical uses for thorium?

Thorium has been investigated for various potential medical uses, but its actual medical applications are still in the research and development stages. Here are some potential medical uses of thorium, though it's important to note that these uses have not been widely adopted or approved for clinical practice:

1. Imaging: Thorium dioxide (thorotrast) has been used historically as a radiopaque contrast agent in medical imaging. However, due to concerns about its radioactivity and potential health risks, it is no longer widely used for this purpose.

2. Cancer Therapy: Thorium-227 has been studied as a potential agent for targeted alpha particle therapy in cancer treatment. Alpha particles emitted by thorium-227 have a short range but high energy, which can be advantageous in delivering targeted radiation to tumors while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

3. Radionuclide Therapy: Some thorium isotopes emit beta particles and gamma rays, which can be used for radionuclide therapy. Radionuclide therapy involves administering a radioactive substance to target and destroy cancerous cells.

4. Infection Control: Thorium dioxide nanoparticles have been explored for their potential antimicrobial and antifungal properties. These nanoparticles could potentially be used in infection control applications.

5. Contrast Agent for Positron Emission Tomography (PET): Thorium-228 has been proposed as a potential contrast agent for PET scans. It emits positrons that can be detected by PET scanners, allowing visualization of biological processes in the body.

It's important to emphasize that the medical uses of thorium are still largely experimental and require further research and rigorous clinical trials to establish safety, efficacy, and optimal treatment protocols before they can be widely adopted in medical practice.