How Isotopes are Used

There are three main ways isotopes can be used for medicine. Isotopes are a special species of atoms but have the same chemical element with the same spot in the periodic table, but they have different atomic masses and physical properties. They are either radioactive or stable. Firstly, radioactive Isotopes can be injected into a patient and the emitted energy can be recorded on film. The film is a lot of help because it is an important diagnostic tool. Medical isotopes can be injected into a tumor and it would destroy the cancerous cells. When the isotopes are used they can either kill or inhibit malfunctioning cells. The isotopes can be used to diagnose thyroid function and in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Because the isotope would be used in the specific region of the thyroid the radioaction can be confined to that specific organ. Isotopes are also used to detect the effects of radiation of the human organism. Radioactive isotopes are tracers and make it possible to tell what is going on in the human body with organic or inorganic substances. If you were to use something else for that research you would not be able to see the same response you to with radioactive isotopes. Radioactive isotopes are also used for things like, measuring the thickness of plastic or metal sheets by measuring how much radiation they can stop. (AECL, 2009)