Why is iodine 131 suitable as a tracer in the body?
Why is iodine 131 suitable as a tracer in the body?
Radioactive iodine (I-131), an isotope of iodine that emits radiation, is used for medical purposes. When a small dose of I-131 is swallowed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and concentrated from the blood by the thyroid gland, where it begins destroying the gland’s cells.
What properties does iodine 131 have?
Iodine I-131 is a radioactive isotope of iodine with an atomic mass of 131, a half life of eight days, and potential antineoplastic activity. Selectively accumulating in the thyroid gland, iodine I 131 emits beta and gamma particles, thereby killing thyroid cells and decreasing thyroid hormone production.
Which field is iodine 131 useful?
…radionuclides suitable for metabolic studies, iodine-131 is one of the most widely used. This gamma-ray emitter has a half-life of eight days and concentrates in the thyroid gland, and so provides a measure of thyroid function.
What are the benefits of iodine 131?
Summary: The benefits of I-131 remnant ablation include: [1] facilitating the interpretation of subsequent serum thyroglobulin levels, [2] increasing the sensitivity of detection of locoregional and/or metastatic disease on subsequent follow-up radioactive iodine whole-body scans, [3] maximizing the therapeutic effect …
What are the dangers of iodine-131?
Exposure to I-131 can increase the risk of thyroid cancer. It is thought that risk is higher for people who have had multiple exposures and for people exposed at a younger age. But even among people who have documented exposures to I-131, few develop this cancer.
How can you protect yourself from iodine-131?
The I-131 leaves your body through your urine primarily….You can always check with your doctor if you have any questions.
- Sleep alone for the first few (3 – 4) days.
- Avoid prolonged physical contact, particularly with children and pregnant women; limit to 15 minutes.
- Do not prepare or serve food to other people.
What are the long term effects of iodine 131?
NCI study finds long-term increased risk of cancer death following common treatment for hyperthyroidism. New study findings show an association between the dose of a common treatment for hyperthyroidism and risk of death from solid cancers.
When was iodine 131 used as a tracer?
The isotope had been used since 1942, however, in the treatment of thyroid cancer. Though used in low doses for medical examinations, iodine 131 is an ideal tracer for use in humans. Only a few radioactive atoms need to be inserted into the bloodstream for the iodine path to be accurately monitored.
What is the half life of iodine I 131?
Iodine I 131 is a radioactive isotope of iodine with an atomic mass of 131, a half life of eight days, and potential antineoplastic activity. Selectively accumulating in the thyroid gland, iodine I 131 emits beta and gamma particles, thereby killing thyroid cells and decreasing thyroid hormone production.
Which is better iodine 131 or iodine 123?
Iodine-123 is a pure gamma emitter and has excellent characteristics for imaging with modern scintillation cameras. The goal of this study was to compare the performance of I-123 and I-131 as imaging agents for whole-body scanning in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer undergoing ablation for thyroid remnants after initial surgery.
What kind of radiation does iodine 131 emit?
…humans and other animals is iodine-131, an isotope that emits beta and gamma rays and is enriched about 100 times in the thyroid gland through selective accumulation. Because of its relatively short half-life (eight days), iodine-131 is probably not the most hazardous fallout isotope; yet, excessive amounts of radiation from…