Utilization of Stable Isotopes in Nuclear Medicine.
Paul Szentgyörgyi
National Institute of Pharmacy, Budapest.
Preparations labelled with stable isotopes form one category of nuclear pharmaceuticals. Such isotopes are: deuterium, 10B, 13C, 15N, 18O. Their utilization can be achieved both in vivo and in vitro. This study concerns the in vivo utilizations. The examinations performed with stable isotopes do not expose the medical personnel, the patients and the environment to nuclear radiation. There is no contraindications for use for pregnant women, nursing mothers and young people under the age of 18.
There are three ways to utilize the stable isotopes in Nuclear Medicine:
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1. Preparations labelled with stable isotopes are administered directly into the patient’s body. (E.g.: deuterium preparations used for metabolism studies).
- 2.Before utilization the preparation labelled with stable isotope is exposed to neutron radiation to transform the stable isotope into radioactive one. (E.g.: 152Sm isotope incorporated in different dosage forms).
- 3.The preparation labelled with stable isotope administered to the patient and localized into the target tissue is exposed to neutron radiation. The destructive action of the radioactive nuclides formed does not exceeds the dimensions of the target tissue. (E.g. stable 10B utilisation in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy).