Nuclear Medicine

736 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essays for nuclear medicine

Nuclear Medicine

When a medical diagnosis needs to be made, it is important that doctors and technicians have the ability to see inside the body without the complications that can be caused by surgery. This issue that can be seen on both the local and global scale due to the frequency of cancer and other life threatening issues. A solution to this issue is the use of technology that uses nuclear medicine has the ability to detect tumors, aneurysms, irregular blood flow, and blood cells disorders. Nuclear medicine also is capable of treating various types of cancer. These abilities make nuclear medicine an invaluable necessity in the medical field.

How Science is Applied and How Effective Nuclear Medicine is

One example of nuclear science is a PET or positron emission tomography, scan. This scan detects radiation emitted from a radioactive substance that i injected into the body. The isotopes that are usually used for this scan are; Carbon- 11, Fluorine- 18, Oxygen- 15, and Nitrogen- 13 (Freudenrich, 2000) because of their radioactivity, or property of emitting energetic particles. Another reason that these isotopes are used because of their relatively radioactive decay, or disintegration of a radioactive substance. It is important that these radioisotopes are not stable, or unlikely to decompose or change, due to the need for them to exit the body quickly. This means that the radioactive substances will leave the body relatively quickly.
These isotopes are used in over 1,000 hospitals world wide, 90% of the time for diagnosis ("Radioisotopes in medicine," 2014). These isotopes are made in nuclear reactors, structures that cause chain reactions, through nuclear fission, maintaining the amount of substances at the ...

... middle of paper ...

...sts of these diagnosis tool and treatments causes many people to be unable to afford these necessary treatment and diagnosis tools.

Works Cited

Freudenrich, C. (2000, October 18). How nuclear medicine works. Retrieved from http:/ science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-medicine.htm

Nordqvist, C. (2009, June 22). What is a PET scan? Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154877.php Radioisotopes in medicine. (2014, January 3). Retrieved from http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Non-Power-Nuclear-Applications/ Radioisotopes/ Radioisotopes-in-Medicine/

Excell, J. (2011, April 11). Nuclear fussion might be the best medicine. Retrieved from http://www.theengineer.co.uk/opinion/comment/nuclear-fusion-might-be-the- best-medicine/1008204.article

Krans, B. (2012, July 10). PET scans. Retrieved from http:// nuclearmedicine.stanford.edu/patient_care/

Show More
Related

  • Nanobots for Internal Surgery

    1707 Words  | 4 Pages

    Over the years, surgery has made tremendous progress while changing human perspective; viewed as “no more science than butchery” a couple of centuries ago to now considered to be a solution for many health care problems threatening humans, like cancer, heart disease and kidney failure. Nevertheless, surgery has not been perfected to a level that provides successful results every time it is performed on patients. For example, surgery done to remove tumors in cancer patients result in only 45% of individuals to be cured. However, in order to be successful, the surgical procedure has to be carried out incredibly precisely and incomplete removal of tumors can decrease survival rate. Therefore, surgeons have to be able to recognize diseased tissue and distinguish it between healthy tissues. But even with the use of radioactive tracers and visuals, surgeons are not able to identify the exact site of the unhealthy tissue and its boundaries. Thus, almost 40% of the time cancerous cells are left behind because even the best qualified surgeons are not successful at the nanotechnological scale of tissue.

    Read More

  • Puerto Rico Persuasive Speech

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hence, the citizens must pay a large amount of money to get treatment, and this also makes it difficult for them to find specialists

    Read More

  • The Field of Radiology: What role do you see for yourself?

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    The role of the radiologist is one that has undergone numerous changes over the years and continues to evolve a rapid pace. Radiologists specialize in the diagnoses of disease through obtaining and interpreting medical images. There are a number of different devices and procedures at the disposal of a radiologist to aid him or her in these diagnoses’. Some images are obtained by using x-ray or other radioactive substances, others through the use of sound waves and the body’s natural magnetism. Another sector of radiology focuses on the treatment of certain diseases using radiation (RSNA). Due to vast clinical work and correlated studies, the radiologist may additionally sub-specialize in various areas. Some of these sub-specialties include breast imaging, cardiovascular, Computed Tomography (CT), diagnostic radiology, emergency, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), musculoskeletal, neuroradiology, nuclear medicine, pediatric radiology, radiobiology, and Ultrasound (Schenter). After spending a vast amount of time on research and going to internship at the hospital, I have come to realize that my passion in science has greatly intensified. Furthermore, both experiences helped to shape up my future goals more prominently than before, which is coupled with the fact that I have now established a profound interest in radiology, or rather nuclear medicine.

    Read More

  • PET Scans

    1073 Words  | 3 Pages

    The description of PET scans in detail requires the understanding of the radioactive substance injected into the subject. First, a small amount of a biochemical substance is tagged with a positron-emitting radioisotope. A positron is an “anti-electron.” Positrons are given off during the decay of the nuclei of the radioisotope. When the positron emitted collides with an electron in the tissue of the subject, both the positron and the electron are annihilated. When this happens, the collision produces two gamma rays having the same energy (511 KeV), but going in opposite directions.

    Read More

  • Standardized Safety with Tools and Checklist

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ntroduction of these two initiatives, there has been documented evidence of reduced incidences. Unfortunately, the human factor is still and will always be an issue. Success in clinical environments will only come if these tools are implemented and used properly, not just as “a tick box exercise” (Featherstone, et al., 2010).

    Read More

  • Pediatric Implications of Diagnostic, Interventional, and Therapeutic Radiology

    2827 Words  | 6 Pages

    Since the beginning of the propitious world, the core aspect that keeps it thriving is the propensity for people to discover innovations; however, progress of the past is, systematically, detrimental to the future. Not long after the revolutionary invention of the X-ray in the late 19th Century, an unprecedented number of medical examiners noticed (unknown to the time) radiation burns all over their body; decades later, an extraordinary surge in cancer cases had arisen. Perhaps, during the course of these years, scientists and researchers desired to further progress the x-ray (into the immense subsidiaries that are here today), and disregarded any flaws in the apparatus. This systematic inclination continues into the present time as Gary Marshall and Shane Keene notes in their 2007 article, “New technologies allow for patients to be overexposed routinely, and also allow for repeats to be taken quickly, making it easier for a technologist to multiply the patients dose without considering the implications” (5). The gaffes of radiology are present not only in the diagnostic setting, but also in the surgical and therapeutic areas. Working with radiation, it is imperative that the staff is aware of mistakes that are potentially fatal not only for patients, but themselves. It is especially important for medical radiologists to be cognizant of pediatric patients. The standard practice of pediatric radiology in the United States is to follow the step-by step formula from which adult patients are treated and diagnosed. There are copious consequences for following this technique since a child naturally has less body mass and a weaker immune and lymphatic system to manage radiation and its adverse effects. Medical radiology, being a...

    Read More

  • Computed Tomography and Radionuclide Imaging

    991 Words  | 2 Pages

    As a starting point in CT diagnostic imaging the form of radiation used to provide an image are x-rays photons , this can also be called an external radiation dose which detect a pathological condition of an organ or tissue and therefore it is more organ specific. However the physics process can be described as the radiation passes through the body it is received by a detector and then integrated by a computer to obtain a cross-sectional image (axial). In this case the ability of a CT scanner is to create only axial two dimensional images using a mathematical algorithm for image reconstruction. In contrast in RNI the main property for producing a diagnostic image involves the administration of small amounts of radiotracers or usually called radiopharmaceutical drugs to the patient by injection or oral. Radio meaning the emitted of gamma rays and pharmaceutical represents the compound to which a nuclide is bounded or attached. Unlike CT has the ability to give information about the physiological function of a body system. The radiopharmaceutical often referred to as a nuclide has the ability to emit ga...

    Read More

  • Impact of the Manhattan Project

    505 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nuclear energy is used today for energy supply and about 15% of the world’s energy comes from nuclear power plants some forms of medicine such as nuclear medicine rely solely on nuclear technology. This technology was developed through the process of creating the first atomic bomb and would not exist if not for the advancements made during the Manhattan project.

    Read More

  • Nuclear Medicine

    2371 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nuclear Medicine is the use of radioisotopes for diagnosis, treatment, and research. Radioactive chemical tracers emit gamma rays which provides diagnostic information about a person's anatomy and the functioning of specific organs. Radioisotopes are also utilizes in treatments of diseases such as cancer. It is estimated that approximately one in two people in Western countries are likely to experience the benefits of nuclear medicine in their lifetime.

    Read More

  • Radiation Therapy

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are numerous reasons as to why I want to pursue my dream of becoming a radiation therapist. The most important reason is because I love to help other people overcome any problem they are facing. However saving a patient’s life through radiation would be even more amazing. Not to mention, after obtaining the proper education, the salary I receive will be fairly high. Cancer has recently become a part of many families, including my own. I see what a few of my family members are going through and having to struggle with every single day in order to live to see another day, The struggles that they go through have opened my mind in many ways, I wish I was the one that they could come to for a chance of survival, but I can’t, so in order for me to help cancer patients fight for their lives, I will obtain the proper education, licenses, and possess the numerous skills needed by a radiation therapist..

    Read More

  • Radioisotopes and their Medical Uses

    892 Words  | 2 Pages

    A radioisotope is an isotope that emits radiation as it has nuclear instability(Prostate Cancer; Fusion imaging helps target greater doses of radiation).Those who are not too familiar with radioisotopes may think their use is for harmful radiation, nuclear weapons, and the possibility of turning into a giant, raging, green monster. However, there are much more positive uses for radioisotopes. There have been many medical advances thanks to the benefit and practice of radioisotopes in nuclear medicine. These advances have been able to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases.

    Read More

  • Nuclear Chemistry

    1999 Words  | 4 Pages

    “The half-life of a radioisotope is the time required for half the atoms in a given sample to undergo radioactive decay; for any particular radioisotope, the half-life is independent of the initial amount of...

    Read More

  • Specialties within Radiology

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    Radiology is one of the few so-called “physical-science”-based fields of medicine, making it a challenging and rewarding application of an academic interest in science. It combines advanced knowledge of human physiology with principles of atomic physics and nuclear decay, electricity and magnetism, and both organic and inorg...

    Read More

  • Fission Vs Fusion Research Paper

    597 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nuclear reactions are used in several ways. They can be used to create new elements. These reactions can combine and split atoms to from new ones. They can also create electricity. The electricity usually comes from nuclear plants. These plants boil water into steam. After this occurs the steam turns into turbines, and this causes electricity. They use fission to split the atoms. Just one of these nuclear reactor can generate over 1,200,000 houses at one time. It also creates energy as well. Another popular way these reactions are used is for medicine.

    Read More

  • Importance Of Medication Compliance

    1248 Words  | 3 Pages

    The cost of the treatment. Sometimes the medications are not covered by insurance, so this makes it difficult to patients to adhere to buying the drugs because they don’t have the money to afford it.

    Read More

More about Nuclear Medicine

Open Document