Radionuclide imaging and therapy Key Terms

Therapeutic X-ray

A type of high-energy X-ray used primarily for treating cancer by targeting and destroying tumor cells.

Diagnostic X-ray

A type of X-ray used to create images of the inside of the body to diagnose medical conditions.

Radioactive Tracer

A substance containing a radioactive isotope used to track the flow of material in a system, particularly in medical imaging.

Half-life

The time required for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay, crucial for determining the timing of medical treatments and imaging.

source type

The specific kind of radioactive material used in implants, which influences the treatment effectiveness and safety.

half-life

The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a source to decay, affecting the duration of treatment and patient exposure.

Radioactive implants

Devices that deliver radiation directly to a tumor site, minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

Half-life

The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay, crucial for determining the timing of treatment and safety in medical applications.

Radioactive implants

Radioactive implants are small sources of radiation placed inside or near a tumor to deliver targeted radiation therapy.

External radiotherapy

External radiotherapy involves directing high-energy radiation beams from outside the body to target and destroy cancer cells.

Resolution

The smallest spatial detail that can be distinguished in an image, determined by the imaging system’s ability to separate two points.

Risk

The probability or potential for harm to the patient, including radiation‑induced effects, associated with an imaging procedure.

radioactive tracer

A substance containing a radioactive isotope used to track processes in the body through imaging techniques.

half-life

The time required for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay, crucial for determining the timing of medical imaging procedures.

ionising radiation

Radiation that carries enough energy to liberate electrons from atoms or molecules, potentially causing damage to living tissue.

non-ionising radiation

Radiation that does not carry enough energy to ionise atoms or molecules, generally considered less harmful to biological tissues.

Image resolution

The ability of an imaging system to distinguish small details, measured by spatial resolution.

Radiation dose

The amount of ionising radiation energy absorbed by tissue, quantified in Gray (Gy) or sievert (Sv).