The Use of Isotopes in Medicine - Literature review Example

THE USE OF ISOTOPES IN MEDICINE An isotope is a term used to refer to the forms of an element. Elements wouldhave either two or more forms or isotopes. These isotopes are characterized by a nucleus with the same quantity of protons. This means that isotopes of an element have the same atomic number. Nonetheless, isotopes do not share the same number of neutrons within their nucleus. As a result, isotopes are said to have divergent atomic weights. There are two major types of isotopes. These are the radioactive and stable isotopes. Bodamer and Halliday (2001, p. 444) define radioactive isotopes as those whose nucleus is unstable. Because of this, radioactive isotopes have a tendency for spontaneous decomposition, a reaction which involves the release of radiation. During the decomposition of a radioactive isotope, a helium nucleus is released, a process which leads to the stabilization of the isotope. On the other hand, a stable isotope does not have a tendency for spontaneous decomposition and as a result, these isotopes resist various forms of chemical alterations. Radioactive have been used widely used in medicine as agents of diagnostic processes. This essay gives a critical analysis ad discussion of the various uses or applications of isotopes in the field of medicine. Many chemical elements contain isotopes. Radioisotopes are often products of artificial combination of protons and neutrons. Artificial production of radioisotopes often employs protons and neutrons which do not exist in nature (Ruth, 2009, p. 536). There are a total of 1800 radioisotopes including those which arise from the decay of thorium and uranium in their primordial states. There are a variety of ways in which radioisotopes can be produced or manufactured artificially. These include neutron activation which is the commonest way of producing radioisotopes. This is done within a nuclear reactor. In addition, some radioisotopes are produced within a cyclotron in which deficiency of neutrons within a nucleus is achieved through artificial introduction of protons (Bodamer and Halliday (2001, p. 445). The artificial manufacture of radioisotopes is aimed at meeting their application in medicine. The radioisotopes used in medicine are known as radiopharmaceuticals. The following section describes three major applications of radioisotopes in medicines with the justification on why specific radioisotopes are used in the management of various medical processes. The disadvantages associate with the use of isotopes is also provided later in the essay. According to Ruth (2009, p. 537), isotopes are used in nuclear medicine to provide diagnostic information which is used by physicians to diagnose various medical conditions. This is achieved through the imaging of organs such as bones, thyroid gland, liver and heart to determine their functioning. Prvulovich and Bomanji (1998, p. 1140) demonstrates 90% of the application of isotopes in medicine if for diagnostic procedures. Technetium-99 is the most commonly used radioisotope for medical diagnosis. Ramamoorthy and Binukumar (2010, p. 46) say that technetium-99 is used widely as a radioactive tracer. This isotope is commonly used because it is detectable within the body through the use of specialized medical equipment such as gamma cameras. Technetium-99 is releases gamma rays and this explains why gamma cameras are able to detect it within the body. More importantly, technetium-99 is relatively safer in diagnosis as compared to other isotopes. This is due to the fact that it its physical and biological half-life is short. As a result, it decays within 24 hours of exposure to the body. This provides sufficient time for the quick detection of chemical equipment while it keeps the exposure of the patient to the radiation as low as possible (Bodamer and Halliday (2001, p. 446). This demonstrates why this isotope is commonly applied in medical diagnosis. Prvulovich and Bomanji (1998, p. 1143) explain that isotopes are also commonly used in therapy. Radionuclide therapy specifically employs the use of isotopes in the treatment of cancerous growths. This form of therapy is directed at cancerous cells that are sensitive to radiation and hence it is used to contain, eliminate of eradicate them completely during therapy (Ramamoorthy and Binukumar, 2010, p. 47). There are two forms of radionuclide therapy. These are internal and external irradiation. During external irradiation, cobalt-60 is the commonly used radioactive isotope. This isotope is used because it produces gamma beams during the process of decomposition (Ruth, 2009, p. 537). The gamma beam as produced from Cobalt-60 is eradiated at specific tumor cells. This form of therapy is very precise and is commonly used in treatment of brain tumors. External irradiation is preferred because it prevents direct invasion of the brain cells in an active surgical procedure which would lead to adverse effects. Internal irradiation on the other hand is a form of radionuclide therapy where a beta or gamma emitter is implanted within the body for therapeutic purposes. For example in the treatment of thyroid cancer, iodine-131 is used in internal irradiation at a short range. This form of treatment is referred to as brachytherapy and has been termed as one of the most successive cancer therapies. In the treatment of head and breast tumors, Iridium-192 is commonly used. The application of isotopes iodine-131 and Iridium-192 in cancer therapy is attributed to the fact that in correct doses, they are provide less radiation to the rest of the body and hence are effective in the treatment of localized tumors. Ramamoorthy and Binukumar (2010, p. 450) reflects that radioisotopes are also used in biochemical analysis. This is a set of medical processes which is used to determine the concentrations of various chemicals within the body. The use of isotopes in biochemical analysis is achieved due to the ease with which medical equipment can be used to detect and report absence or presence of various radioactive isotopes within the body. These isotopes can be detected even at very low volumes and concentrations (Prvulovich and Bomanji, 1998, p. 1144). As a result, radioisotopes provide a safe way through which biochemical analysis is achieved. Ramamoorthy and Binukumar (2010, p. 46) explains that the process of biochemical analysis involves labeling of various molecules within biological samples out of the body or in vitro. This is commonly used by pathologists to determine the levels and concentration of various elements within body samples. For example the constituents of serum, blood, antigens, urine, drugs and hormones can be determined by the use of radioisotopes. It is important to note that different radioisotopes are used in biochemical analysis. This is because different isotopes are used to detect different constituents within body samples. The procedure of using radioisotopes in biochemical analysis is called radioimmino-assay (Bodamer and Halliday (2001, p. 445). This process is however complex. Nonetheless, various kits have been designed and manufactured to ease the process of biochemical analysis with the use of radioisotopes. These kits have become common in biochemical analyses because they provide accurate results. Ramamoorthy and Binukumar (2010, p. 49) further emphasize that radioisotopes have proved very useful in the field of medicine. This is attributed to their application in diagnosis, reporting the functioning of organs and treatment. The use of radioisotopes to weaken or destroy cancerous cells is significantly one of the most important applications or benefits of isotopes and their application in medicine. Nonetheless, the use of isotopes in medicine is also disadvantageous in some ways. Prvulovich and Bomanji (1998, p. 1144) explains that the application of isotopes in diagnosis and therapy is very expensive owing to the complicated equipment and procedures that are involved. Ruth (2009, p. 537) adds that radioactive materials are dangerous both to the patients and health care providers. Prolonged exposure to radioactive material for example leads to damage of health tissues and cells within the body. Ruth (2009, p. 536) explains that radioactive isotopes have been linked to birth defects and some forms of cancer. This demonstrates that if isotopes are not used properly, they would result into negative implications on health. Furthermore, radioisotopes if not disposed properly, can cause pollution to the environment (Ramamoorthy and Binukumar, 2010, p. 47). In the light of the above discussion, it is conclusive that isotopes, especially radioisotopes have found wide application in medicine. This includes their use in the diagnosis of various medical conditions. Technetium is specifically used in diagnosis because it releases gamma rays in the process of decomposition. The gamma rays are them detected with the use of gamma cameras within medical equipment. The short half-life of tenchnetium-99 makes it safer because of the less prolonged exposure to the patient. Radioisotopes are also used in therapy especially in cancer. For example, iodine-131 is used in the treatment of thyroid cancer. Iridium-192is also used in breast and brain cancer in a form of brachytherapy or internal irradiation where short range isotopic exposure to the affected organ is applied. This form of therapy is safe because of its accuracy in the treatment of specific tumors or destruction of localized cancerous cells without exposure to the surrounding tissues. Furthermore, isotopes have been used in biochemical analysis where the concentration of various chemicals within sample is analyzed, tested and determined within biological samples. The uses of isotopes in medicine demonstrate their advantages. Nevertheless, there are disadvantages which are related to the application of radioisotopes in medicine. These include the nature of isotopes to cause harm to health body cells in cases of prolonged exposure to patients or health care providers. The prolonged exposure to the isotopes would lead to birth defects and some forms of cancer. Finally, radioisotopes are environmental pollutants when they are not appropriately or properly disposed. References Bodamer, O A F and Halliday, D, 2001, “Uses of stable isotopes in clinical diagnosis and research in the paediatric population”, Archives of Disease in Childhood, 84, 5, pp. 444-446 Prvulovich, E M and Bomanji, J B, 1998, “The role of nuclear medicine in clinical investigation”, British Medical Journal, p. 1140-1144 Ramamoorthy R, and Binukumar J. P, 2010, “Development of departmental standard for traceability of measured activity for I-131 therapy capsules used in nuclear medicine”, Journal of Medical Physics, 36, 1, pp. 46-50 Ruth, T, 2009, “Accelerating production of medical isotopes”, Nature, 457, 29, pp. 536-537 Read More