What is one way in which nuclear chemistry is used to diagnose or treat diseases?

Answer 1

Various forms of nuclear medicine are utilized in medical imaging and treatment. NMRI allows for advanced and 3D anatomical imaging. Nuclear medicine also involves interventional therapies such as the use of isotopes to treat cancers.

Answer 2

Nuclear physics (and chemistry) is used in medicine for both diagnostic and treatment purposes. Examples include PET (positron emission tomography), which uses biochemical compounds tagged with a radioactive substance undergoing beta+ decay to visualize areas where such a compound may be metabolized, and radiotherapy in cancer treatment, where either high energy gamma rays are used to bombard and kill the cancerous cells at a distance or radioactive 'seeds' are planted within a tumor to destroy it from the inside.

Answer 3

I'm guessing that you are referring to the use of radioactive compounds in medical procedures. That is a fascinating and important area of medicine. The people who deal directly with these compounds are medical physicists and radiologists.

The body deals with chemicals based on the specific compounds or elements involved and not whether they are radioactive or not. For example, a radioactive form of potassium, potassium-40, is metabolized into the bones just like non-radioactive (stable) potassium.

Radioactive elements will emit very specific types of energy which can be detected outside the body.

In medical practice, radioactive chemicals can be given to patients knowing that they will be concentrated in different organs in different ways. Some compounds are processed by the liver, others by the pancreas or the thyroid. Also, healthy tissue will process the compounds differently than cancerous tissue. By monitoring the concentrations of energy emitted, physicists and physicians can tell whether an organ is normal or abnormal.

In some cases, radioactive elements are used to kill cancerous tissue. Cobalt-60 can be used from outside the body to target cancerous tumors. Radioactive iodine can be injected to destroy a cancerous thyroid.

Radio labeling (with radio active compounds) is a key technique used in laboratory to study the metabolic diseases and cancers. X-ray technique is a well known method to identify bone injuries.

Answer 4

I'm guessing that you are referring to the use of radioactive compounds in medical procedures. That is a fascinating and important area of medicine. The people who deal directly with these compounds are medical physicists and radiologists.

The body deals with chemicals based on the specific compounds or elements involved and not whether they are radioactive or not. For example, a radioactive form of potassium, potassium-40, is metabolized into the bones just like non-radioactive (stable) potassium.

Radioactive elements will emit very specific types of energy which can be detected outside the body.

In medical practice, radioactive chemicals can be given to patients knowing that they will be concentrated in different organs in different ways. Some compounds are processed by the liver, others by the pancreas or the thyroid. Also, healthy tissue will process the compounds differently than cancerous tissue. By monitoring the concentrations of energy emitted, physicists and physicians can tell whether an organ is normal or abnormal.

In some cases, radioactive elements are used to kill cancerous tissue. Cobalt-60 can be used from outside the body to target cancerous tumors. Radioactive iodine can be injected to destroy a cancerous thyroid.

Answer 5

Mainly by adding a radioactive isotope to the body and then tracing the uptake or distribution.

A good example is the use of radio-iodine it thyroid disease.

Answer 6

Tracer elements

Answer 7

Yes, it is true.

Answer 8

radiation