radiopharmaceutical
Medicinal radioactive compound
A radiopharmaceutical is a drug containing a radioactive substance, used in medical imaging or treatment.
In diagnostic scans, radiopharmaceuticals accumulate in specific tissues, emitting radiation that cameras detect to reveal organ function or disease.
In therapy, they deliver targeted radiation to destroy cancer cells: The patient received a radiopharmaceutical injection before the PET scan.
Decay-prone atomic nucleus
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- gammaGreek alphabet's third
positron · beta · alpha · emission · ionizing · photon · generator · technetium-99m
Path-marking projectile
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
- PETNuclear medicine imaging
- SPECTGamma-emitting radiotracer imaging method
- screeningEvaluative selection process
detection · biodistribution · uptake · localization · sensitivity · specificity · staging · restaging
Radioactive halogen isotope
- ablationRemoval by cutting, melting
- cytotoxicToxic to cells
- palliativeOffering relief, not remedy
- remissionTemporary disease absence
Science of unstable isotopes
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
- labelingAssigning identifying markers
- radiolabelingAttaching radioactive tracers to molecules
- conjugationVerb form variation system
quality control · sterility · compounding · GMP · lead shielding · syringe · vial · calibration
Drug fate in body
- biodistributionDrug distribution in tissues
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
- excretionRemoval of metabolic waste
- bioavailabilityFraction reaching active circulation
administration · intravenous · dosage · dosimetry · contraindications · adverse effects · extravasation · regulatory
Cancer spreading beyond origin
- prostate cancerMale urogenital gland malignancy
- thyroid cancerNeck gland malignancy
- lymphomaCancer from immune cells
- stagingPreparing for presentation
radionuclide
Decay-prone atomic nucleus
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- decayGradual organic breakdown
gamma · positron · beta · alpha · emission · ionizing · photon · generator · technetium-99m · cyclotron
tracer
Path-marking projectile
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
- PETNuclear medicine imaging
- SPECTGamma-emitting radiotracer imaging method
screening · detection · biodistribution · uptake · localization · sensitivity · specificity · staging · restaging · surveillance
iodine-131
Radioactive halogen isotope
- ablationRemoval by cutting, melting
- cytotoxicToxic to cells
- palliativeOffering relief, not remedy
radiochemistry
Science of unstable isotopes
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
- labelingAssigning identifying markers
- radiolabelingAttaching radioactive tracers to molecules
conjugation · quality control · sterility · compounding · GMP · lead shielding · syringe · vial · calibration · expiration
pharmacokinetics
Drug fate in body
- biodistributionDrug distribution in tissues
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
- excretionRemoval of metabolic waste
bioavailability · administration · intravenous · dosage · dosimetry · contraindications · adverse effects · extravasation · regulatory · FDA approval
metastasis
Cancer spreading beyond origin
- prostate cancerMale urogenital gland malignancy
- thyroid cancerNeck gland malignancy
- lymphomaCancer from immune cells
- radiologyX-ray, CT scan, MRI machine, MRI, CT scanner
- radiobiologyradiobiology, DNA damage, mutations, cell damage, radiosensitivity
- Isotope Tracerstracer, isotope, tritium, deuterium, carbon-14
- radiotherapyproton therapy, radiosurgery, iodine-131, radiopharmaceuticals, brachytherapy
- radiotracerstechnetium-99m, carbon-11, iodine-131, carfentanil, sodium fluoride
- experimental drugs
radiopharmaceuticalbiologic
Living-organism-derived drug
oral medication · placebo · traditional medicine · chemotherapeutic · herbal remedy
radiopharmaceuticalX-ray
Penetrating diagnostic beam
ultrasound · CT scan · physical examination · blood test · biopsy
radio, radiate, radiance, pharmacy, radiation, pharmacist, radioactive, pharmaceutical, radioactivity