This document discusses various medical imaging and diagnostic techniques including ultrasonography, which uses high frequency sound waves to view internal organs by identifying tissues through their echoes. It also discusses radiopharmaceuticals, which are compounds containing radioactive isotopes used for both diagnosis and therapy by emitting radiation that is targeted to specific organs or tissues. Some examples of radiopharmaceuticals provided are carbon-14, calcium-44/45, cobalt-57/58, and fluorine-18. Radiopharmaceuticals are described as the oldest and most common radiopharmaceutical drugs that can be used for diagnostic imaging, therapy of conditions like cancer or bone metastases, and research applications through their radioactive tracers.

1. Ultrasonography
This techniques uses high frequency sound waves to view internal organs. It
uses principles of sonar
developed. As sound passes through body it produces
echoes, which can be used to identify distinguish between body parts and their size
and shape.
Gastrointestinal Magneto MarkerGraphy (GIMG)
In this method, the dosage form labeled with
ferromagnetic material and
subsequent magnetization using strong magnetic field
Radiopharmaceuticals;
Radiopharmaceuticals are radionuclide compounds that have preferential uptake into bone and
there by deliver a concentrated dose of radiation to bony metastases
Radiopharmaceuticals are unique medicinal formulations containing radioisotopes which are used
in major clinical areas for diagnosis and therapy
Radiopharmaceuticals are agents used to diagnose certain medical problems or treat certain
diseases
Radiopharmaceuticals can be used as
diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
ORadiopharmaceuticals emit radiation themselves
I t is composed of a radioisotope bond to an organic molecule
Theorganic moleculeconveys the radioisotopeto specific organs, tissues orcells
these compounds are the radiotracers used to diagnose dysfunction in body tissues
Radioisotopesemittingpenetratinggamma rays are used for diagnostic (imaging) where the
radiation has to escape the body before being detected bya specific device
OThe radiation emitted by isotope used for imaging vanishes completely after 1 day through
radioactive decay and normal body excretion
Radiopharmaceuticals are the oldest and still most common such drugs
Advantage
I t directly treats tumor, especially useful for bone metastasis.
I t can provide fast onset of pain relief.
Asingle dose is effectiveforsome patients.
Nuclear medicine tests can be performed on children.
Nuclear medicine procedures arecost effective and painless.
They have no side affects and are completely safe.

2. Disadvantages:
I t can
produce some
allergic reactions.
I t has a radiation risk. Myelosuppression may occur, especially with prior chemotherapy.
Some important Radiopharmaceuticals
Carbon-14
Calcium -44 &45
Cobalt -57 &58
Strontium -90
Chromium-51sodium chromate
Gold-198
>Flourine -18
Iron -59
Gallium-67
Indium -111 chloride
Applications ofradioisotopes
They find use in medicine in 4 different ways:
o 1.
Radioisotopes in Therapy (Emitted radiations used to destroy cells in condition like cancer)
o 2. Radioisotopes in Diagnosis (Radioactive tracers)
o 3. Research (Biological and medicinal studies by use of radioactive isotopes as
tracers)
o 4. Sterilization (For sterilization of pharmaceuticals and surgical instruments)
Diagnostic applications
Phosphorous -32
This is used as sodium phosphate for diagnosis of
malignant neoplasmas affecting eye, brain
and skin
Chromium -51
This is sent as sodium chromate sterile solution and is used to label RBC to measure their
survival, volume &gastro intestinal blood losses
Cobalt-57 & cobalt-58
They are labelled with cyanocobalamine (vit B12) preparations for
measurements of
absorption, diagonsis of anemia & other malabsorption syndromes

3. Radio Therapy
The principle of radio therapy is to destroy diseased tissues without destroying healthy tissues
lodine -131 &iodine 123
They are used in the study of thyroid function, in treatment of thyrotoxicosis & thyroid
carcinoma
Yttrium-90
This is used as colloidal suspension of yttrium silicate in treatment of arthritic condition of
joints
Phosphorus-32
sodium phosphate is used in the treatment of polycythaemia by IV injection
Sterilization Techniques
Radio isotopes are employed in radiation sterilization of heat liable drugs like hormones, vitamins,
antibiotics, surgical dressings, disposable syringes etc..
Cobalt-60
This is used as radiation source for strelization by gamma IR radiadtion of disposable
syringes, catheters& surgical dressings
Research
Radioisotopes are used in biochemical research for the determination of mechanism of reaction,
locus of action.
lodine -131
Sodium iodine salt is used in determination of effective renal plasma flow