Radioisotopes are artificially made, unstable elements that release radiation as they break down. Radioisotopes in medicine, also called nuclear medicine, is a form of medicine that uses radiation to get information on the function of organs. It is a fairly new form of medicine that was developed in the 1950s when radiation was used to diagnose and treat thyroid disease. The use of nuclear medicine has become a regular procedure and is important in diagnosing and treating many different diseases. There are many different radioisotopes used in medicine to diagnose and treat different diseases. Radiotherapy is an important part of Radioisotope medicine and is used to treat disease through radiation. Certain procedures go into the making and disposing of radiopharmaceuticals because of the dangers in radioisotopes.
             How Radioisotopes in Medicine Are Used For Diagnosis
             Radioisotopes that break down quickly are combined with chemical compounds so that specific parts of the body can be studied closely to reveal any symptoms of a disease. This combination of radioisotopes and chemical compounds (tracers) can be taken through injection, inhalation, or orally. Diagnoses are made by looking at the position and concentration of the isotope used. If the isotope is partly taken up or taken up in excess by the organ, there is an organ malfunction as well as an unusual pattern or rate of the isotopes movement over a period. One technique is to use a gamma camera, that can see organs from multiple angles. A gamma camera will pick up single photons and will create an image based on the points in which the radiation is emitted. The image is then enhanced by a computer so that doctors can study it an look for any abnormalities.
             Another more sophisticated technique is Positron Emission Tomography or PET. PET uses a positron-emitting radionuclide into the body, most commonly through injection. The radionuclide will then collect in the large tissue an...