radiolääkeaine

Radiolääkeaine is a term used in nuclear medicine to describe a radioactive substance that is administered to a patient for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. These substances are characterized by their radioactive isotopes, which emit radiation that can be detected by specialized imaging equipment or used to treat diseased tissues.

In diagnostic imaging, radiolääkeaineet are typically injected, inhaled, or swallowed and then travel to specific organs or tissues. As the radioactive isotope decays, it emits gamma rays or positrons, which are detected by devices like PET (positron emission tomography) or SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) scanners. The distribution and concentration of the radiolääkeaine in the body provide information about the function and structure of organs, allowing for the diagnosis of various diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders.

For therapeutic applications, radiolääkeaineet are designed to deliver a targeted dose of radiation to cancerous cells or other diseased tissues, while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. This can be achieved by selecting radiolääkeaineet that preferentially accumulate in the target cells or by using external beams of radiation. Examples include the use of radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer treatment or radiolabeled antibodies that target specific cancer cell surface markers. The field of radiopharmaceuticals is continuously evolving, with ongoing research focused on developing new radiolääkeaineet with improved targeting capabilities and reduced side effects.