Medical Isotopes
What are Medical Isotopes
Medical isotopes are widely used throughout the world. The demand for both diagnostic and therapeutic isotopes is growing considerably, especially in the US and Europe. A medical isotope is a radioactive nuclide that, when it decays, provides an energetic particle, such as an alpha, beta, positron, or gamma ray, that allows for its location to be detected in the body, as with a diagnostic isotope, or for the destruction of unwanted cells in the body, as with a therapeutic isotope.
Molecular Imaging, also referred to as Nuclear Medicine, is unique from MRI, CT, or X-ray in that it uses medical isotopes to target or visualize biological and molecular processes at the cellular and molecular level, rather than just anatomy or structure. Molecular Imaging shows how tissues and organs function, often before anatomical changes occur. It can detect early biochemical changes, such as metabolism, receptor binding, enzyme activity, or gene expression.
In summary, molecular imaging complements MRI, CT, and X-ray by adding biological context to anatomical images, allowing for earlier diagnosis, better disease characterization, and personalized treatment planning.