Radiopharmaceuticals
Radiopharmaceuticals (pronunciation: ray-dee-oh-far-ma-soot-ik-als) are a group of pharmaceutical drugs which have radioactivity. They can be used as diagnostic and therapeutic agents in Nuclear Medicine.
Etymology
The term "Radiopharmaceuticals" is derived from the words "radio" which refers to radiation, and "pharmaceuticals" which refers to medicinal drugs.
Definition
Radiopharmaceuticals are unique medicinal formulations containing Radioisotopes which are used in major clinical areas for diagnosis and/or therapy. These drugs are designed to deliver radiation to specific sites in the body to treat diseases or to provide images of organ function.
Types of Radiopharmaceuticals
Radiopharmaceuticals can be classified into two main types: Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals and Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.
Diagnostic Radiopharmaceuticals
Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, when introduced into the body, can depict the extent of a disease process in the body based on the cellular function and physiology. Examples include Technetium-99m, Iodine-123, and Gallium-67.
Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals
Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals deliver destructive radiation to the patient's body and kill malignant cells. Examples include Iodine-131, Yttrium-90, and Lutetium-177.
Applications
Radiopharmaceuticals have applications in the field of Cardiology, Oncology, Endocrinology, etc. They are used to treat diseases like cancer and to conduct medical tests like Bone Scans and Renal Scans.
See Also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Radiopharmaceuticals
- Wikipedia's article - Radiopharmaceuticals
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