Science Assessment Task 3 – Script
Technetium-99m
An isotope of an element has the same number of protons but has a different number of neutrons. A radioisotope is an isotope that’s nuclei is unstable and therefore emits particles or rays of radiation. An example of a radioisotope is Technetium-99m.
Technetium-99m emits gamma radiation.
Gamma radiation is the highest frequency electromagnetic radiation that nuclei can emit, but don’t be scared just yet, because only such a small amount of radiation will be used at any one time, obviously just enough for the diagnostic procedure to work but not enough to seriously harm the patient in one dosage!
So how is it used in medicine?
Well, the Technetium-99m is firstly injected into the body. It then temporarily settles in certain organs or bones such as the heart, brain, thyroid, lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, gall bladder and bone marrow. The location and amount of the radiation is telling of where the problem lies. This is easily detected through a gamma camera for a short time then is eliminated from the body. …show more content…
Some benefits include a quick elimination from the body therefore causing minimal to no harm to the patient, can be used in a vast range of medical applications and is non-invasive, it emits low energy gamma radiation again supplying only a minimal risk to the body and to top it all off it has a half-life of only 6