APPLICATION OF

RADIOTRACER IN MEDICINE
SUBMITTED BY SAIRA BANO
ROLL NO. 139709
SUBMITTED TO : SIR MUDASSAR SALEEM
 RADIOTRACER

• A radiotracer is a chemical compound in which one or more atoms are replaced by a radionuclide
so, by virtue of its radioactive decay it can be use to explore the mechanism of chemical reaction
by tracing the path that the radioisotope follow from reactant to product.
• Emitted Gamma rays.
• Short live isotopes linked with compound.
• Radiotracer are made up of carrier molecule that are bounded to radioactive atom.
 RADIOISOTOPE

• Radioactivity: Spontaneous degradation of nucleus and transmutation of one element to another with
consequence emission of rays or particle.
• Radioisotopes: radioisotopes of metabolically active elements.
• Behave metabolically and chemically same as orignal element with additional property of radioactivity.
LEGENDS OF RADIOACTIVITY
Sir Antonie becquerel

• NP: spontaneous radioactivity

Pierre Curie and Marie Curie

• NP: study of radiation phenomenon

Irene Joliet and Frederic Joliet

• NP:1935 for production of artificial radioactive phosphorous
 APPLICATION OF RADIOTRACER IN
MEDICINES
• RESEARCH
• DIAGNOSIS
• THERAPEUTIC
 APPLICATION OF RADIOACTIVITY IN
RESEARCH
• TRACER STUDIES:
• Isotopes with short half lives are preferred for tracer studies.
they give a more concentrated burst
they are removed more quickly from the body.
• 14 C : use to study metabolism of normal substance Ex: acetoacetic acid
• 131 I : to study metabolic turnover rate.

32 P:to trace nucleic acid synthesis in vivo

• 3 H thymidine: used to study cell division.

 APPLICATION OF RADIOTRACER IN
DIAGNOSTICS
• NUCLEAR MEDICINE:
Branch of medicine which deals diagnostic application of radioactivity.
Radio imaging of the organs like thyroid, liver and bones.
• Medical imaging:
Approximately 68 million CT scan are performed in the U.S according to the national council on radiation.
TC scanning:
99

It is used to analyze blood flow from the heart blood. This is known as nuclear stethoscope.
 THYROID UPTAKE STUDIES

• 15 mci of 131
I injected IV
• Neck region monitored after few hours
• Normally 131
I up take
• 2 hours:25%
• 2-4 hours: 50%

• thyroid uptake : hyperthyroidism

• thyroid up take : hypothyroidism
 POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY(PET)
SCAN
• PET is used to check the abnormalities in organ and tissue.
• it is a more precise and sophisticated technique .the isotope is produced on the spot of a cyclotron
• the emission of positron and their combination with an electron resulting in the simultaneous emission of two
gamma rays is detected by a pet camera.
• Used for brain and soft tissues.
 INDICATIONS OF PET
indication Cancer:
s to check spread of cancer, treatment of cancer.
Heart:
To see the area of decreased blood flow.
Brain:
Alzheimer`s disease and memory loss.
 SINGLE PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED
TOMOGRAPHY (SPECT)
• SPECT is similar to PET in its use of radioactive tracer material and detection of gamma rays.
• SPECT is less expensive than PET.
• SPECT is an imaging test how blood flows to tissues and organs.it is also used to help diagnose
stroke stress fractures, infections and tumor in the spine.
 USE IN DIAGNOSTICS

radiotracer Diagnostic Uses

24
Na Determination of blood volume&circulatory volume
32
P Diagnostic of Ca liver,bone,lymph node&spleen
59
Fe Anemia and other blood vessels disorders
131
I(Diodrast) Interactional hemorrhages,GIT Pr.loss in protein loosing entropathy.
51
Cr To detect lifespanof RBCs&intra vascular hemolysis
99
Tecnitium Bone disease and injury
131
Xenon Pulmonary disease
 APPLICATION OF RADIOTRACER IN
THERAPEUTIC
• When radioisotopes are focused carefully on the malignant tissues death of the tumor cell is
caused mainly due to the direct ionization effect on its DNA.
• The radiation also acts indirectly by creating free radicals that attack the DNA of the tumor cell
but the process is slow.
THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION OF RADIOISOTOPES IN
MEDICINE
radiotherapy

Unsealed Sealed
source source

Liquid
RA P used in
Radium
substanc polycythemi Cs needless
needless
eI used a vera
in
thyroid
Ca and
 TYPES OF RADIOTHERAPY
• BRACHYTHERAPY:
• application at the source
• intracavitary :uterus Ca Cx, Ca vagina
• Intestinal: buccal Ca.
• Teletherapy
• Source of irradiation is kept at a distance
• Deep x ray
• Cs cesium: more penetrating ,deep seated cancer.
 THERAPEUTIC USE
radioisotopes Therapeutic use

60
Co Ca cervix and internal cancers

32
P Polycythemia and squamous cell carcinoma
32
CrSo4 Pleural and intraabdominal effusion secondary to malignancy
32
P,90Sr Superficial cancers e.g; cornea
137
Cs Chronic leukemia
198
Au Malignant pleural and peritoneal effusion
131
I Thyroid cancer and thyrotoxicosis