When it comes to using radioactive substances in medicine, many people automatically think of cancer treatment such as radiation therapy. While radiolabeled compounds play a significant role in therapeutic treatments for cancer patients, using radiolabeled isotopes is also vital to the diagnosis of cancerous tumors.
Optical Imaging
Optical images are an essential aspect of cancer diagnostics because it is a non-invasive way to diagnose a tumor. From CT scans to MRI and PET imaging, radiolabeled isotopes help detect cancerous tumors and provide more in-depth details than using the technology without radiolabeled isotopes would.
These imaging procedures prove a three-dimensional image of the tumor; however, sensitivity and resolution can make it challenging to get a full and accurate diagnosis. This is where radiotracers make all the difference. Radiotracers that target specific tumors display localized signals at the tissue, revealing the cancer's location and tumor size for a more accurate diagnosis.
Technetium and Optical Imagine
Technetium-99m is a widely popular radionucleotide in diagnosis scans. It is an ideal element for diagnostic medicine because it has a half-life of six hours and emits gamma rays that are easily detected from outside the body. Medical scans like PET then pick up the glow of the radioisotope and its localization.
Radiotheranostics
Another form of diagnosis in cancer treatment while using radioisotopes is radiotheranostics. As the name suggests, this type of diagnosis combines diagnosis and therapeutic efforts into one. This provides more precise medicine and accurate targeting of cancer cells. The radiotheranostic platform includes an imaging component that locates and identifies the cancerous cells, followed by the companion therapy agent's administration that treats the same cells. This strategy leads to enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
Radioiodine in Radiotheranostics
Radioiodine is a common radiotheranostic agent that has previously aided the clinical management of thyroid diseases. In cancer diagnostics, radioiodine has made headway in diagnosing neuroendocrine tumors and prostate cancer, among other cancerous conditions.
Radiolabeling plays a significant role in both therapeutic and diagnostic medicine in cancer patients. Optical imaging and radiotheranostics are just two examples of how using radiolabeled isotopes in cancer diagnosis works.