Nuclear Radiation Applications in Medicine

Atomic nucleus radiation, as one of the essential tools in modern science and medical practices, it naturally comes well-armed with an array of effective methods for diagnosis, monitoring, and cure of diseases. No longer just in the environment or a product of nuclear power, radiation is one of the pillars of medical advancements. The ability to interact with human tissues at the atomic and molecular level gives clinicians and researchers opportunities to see internal structures in remarkable detail, measure the functioning of organs, and choose which diseased cells should be killed. The full spectrum of alpha and beta emitters, gamma emitters, and alpha and beta-emitting radioisotopes all have unique roles in medicine to advance patient care and the clinical technology that results. While historically associated with nuclear physics and environmental science, radiation itself now straddles the intersection of the physical, biological, chemical, and medical disciplines, with so many groundbreaking developments occurring that were previously unfathomable just a few decades ago.
This text addresses multiple types of ionizing radiation used in medicine, encompassing four significant chapters. The first chapter is focused on α radiation, especially with respect to its high effectiveness in target alpha therapy and cancer cell-specific killing. Chapter 2 covers beta radiation and its use in systemic and brachytherapy, thyroid diseases, and eye diseases. Chapter 3 is centred on gamma-radiation, specifically its use in diagnosis (in radionuclide imaging), and for treatment using external-beam radiotherapy. The last chapter integrates the wider context of medical radioisotopes: their production, behavior in the body and growing importance to contemporary precision medicine.
This book is intended to provide students, investigators, medical physicists, and healthcare providers with a comprehensive reference that links the science of radiation physics to advanced clinical applications. In addition to theoretical content, practical applications, safety considerations, and new trends that are shaping the future of nuclear medicine are discussed in this work.
With a systematic and comprehensive treatment, this book has the goal to accompany the next generation of medical doctors and researchers in their understanding and application of nuclear technology responsibly. I believe that the content in this book may help a further understanding of them and also motivate studies on new aspects that contribute to the safety and better utilization of radiation in medicine around the world.