An isotope contains 16 protons 18 electrons and 16 neutrons what is the identity of the isotope and I encourage you to pause the video and see if you can figure it out and I'll give you a hint you might want to use this periodic table here alright so I'm assuming you've had a go at it so the element is defined by the number of protons it has so if someone tells you the number of protons you. Isotopes are distinguished from each other by giving the combined number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. For example, uranium 235 is the isotope of uranium that has 235 protons and neutrons in its nucleus rather than the more commonly occurring 238. All elements have isotopes. Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc. Is the world’s leading producer of stable isotopes and stable isotope labeled compounds. Visit us to learn more.

Learning Objective

Describe the use of radioactive isotopes in medicine

Key Points

Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that involves the application of radioactive substances to diagnose or treat disease.
Nuclear medicine can be used for image physiological functions.
In addition to imaging, radionuclide therapy can be used to treat conditions such as hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, and blood disorders.
Common isotopes that are used in nuclear imaging include: fluorine-18, gallium-67, krypton-81m, rubidium-82, nitrogen-13, technetium-99m, indium-111, iodine-123, xenon-133, and thallium-201.

Terms

nuclear medicineThe branch of medicine that uses radioactive isotopes in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
radiopharmaceuticalAny radioactive substance used as a pharmaceutical.
physiologicalOf, or relating to, the science of the function of living systems.

Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that involves the application of radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of a disease.

In nuclear medicine procedures, radionuclides are combined with other elements to form chemical compounds. These radiopharmaceuticals, once administered to the patient, can localize to specific organs or cellular receptors. This property of radiopharmaceuticals allows nuclear medicine the ability to image the extent of a disease process in the body. These images are based on cellular function and physiology, rather than on physical changes in the tissue anatomy. Therefore, with some diseases, nuclear medicine studies can identify medical problems at an earlier stage than other diagnostic tests.

Diagnosis

In nuclear medical imaging, radiopharmaceuticals are taken internally, either intravenously or orally. After this, external detectors capture and form images from the radiation that is emitted by the radiopharmaceuticals. This process is unlike a diagnostic X-ray, where external radiation is passed through the body to form an image. Nuclear medicine differs from most other imaging in that diagnostic tests primarily show the physiological function of the system being investigated, as opposed to traditional anatomic imaging, such as CT or MRI.

Common isotopes that are used in nuclear imaging include: fluorine-18, gallium-67, krypton-81m, rubidium-82, nitrogen-13, technetium-99m, indium-111, iodine-123, xenon-133, and thallium-201.

Treatment

In addition to imaging, radionuclide therapy can be used to treat conditions such as hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, and blood disorders. The radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine therapy emit ionizing radiation that travels only a short distance. This thereby minimizes unwanted side effects and damage to noninvolved organs or nearby structures. For this type of therapy, yttrium-90 and iodine-131 are the most commonly used isotopes.

Isotopes Are Atoms With The Same Number Of

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Isotopes Are Defined As

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Isotopes Are

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