Question

Apply the principle of half-life to nuclear medicine. In nuclear medicine, a radioactive isotope, or tracer, can target a particular organ to take a 'picture' of it. Which properties of the tracer make it useful in nuclear medicine? Check all that apply.

1) The isotope should have the same behavior as other isotopes of the element.
2) The half-life of the tracer should be long in duration.
3) The tracer should have the ability to be metabolized and excreted from the body.
4) An X-ray with some organ systems made visible by the use of tracers.

Answer 1

In nuclear medicine, the properties making a radioactive tracer useful include its same behavior as other isotopes of the element, an appropriate half-life for detection without excessive radiation exposure, and the ability to be metabolized and excreted from the body.

Step-by-step explanation:

When applying the principle of half-life to nuclear medicine, the properties that make a radioactive tracer useful include:

The isotope should exhibit the same behavior as other isotopes of the element, ensuring it participates in biochemical processes in a predictable manner.

The half-life of the tracer should be long enough to allow for its detection and imaging but short enough to minimize radiation exposure to the patient.

The tracer should have the ability to be metabolized and excreted from the body to avoid long-term retention and associated risks.

These properties enable the tracer to target specific organs or tissues, allowing for diagnostic imaging or treatment management. Option 4, involving an X-ray with tracer, is more a description of the application of the tracer in medical imaging rather than a property of the tracer itself.