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HL Chem > D8 Nuclear medicine > Flashcards

D8 Nuclear medicine Flashcards

(60 cards)

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1
Q

define nucleons

A

number and type of nucleons present

protons and neutrons

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2
Q

stable vs unstable nuclei

A

balanced forces among nucleons // unbalanced forces

not reactive // radioactive (spontaneously decay - forms more stable nuclei)

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3
Q

what are unstable nuclei called

A

radionuclides

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4
Q

describe natural radionuclides

A
  • occur in enviro
  • include 235U, 3H, 14C
  • all elements Z=84 and above = naturally radioactive, no stable naturally occuring isotope
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5
Q

describe induced/artificial radionuclides

A
  • unstable thru procedures, usually bombardment reactions w neutrons/helium nuclei at great speed
  • many radionuclides used in nuclear med prod thru this
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6
Q

how are most radionuclides in nuclear med produced

A

induced/artificial radionuclides
- made unstable usually thru bombardment reactions with neutrons/helium nuclei at great speed

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7
Q

define radioactivity

A

involves the emission of energy and particles
from the nucleus as
an atom decays
into a more stable form

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8
Q

who discovered radioactivity (initial)

A

henri becquerel
- photographic plates became fogged close to uranium salts – bc emission

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9
Q

who furthered radioactivity studies

A

pierre and marie curie

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10
Q

2 types of atomic nuclei

A
  1. quarks – makes up neutrons and protons
  2. antiparticles – equivalent mass but opp charge eg positron
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11
Q

how are quarks arranged

A

sets of 3

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12
Q

what is a positron

A

antiparticle of an electron w same pass and positive charge
- when antiparticles and particles collide = mutual destruction

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13
Q

5 possible events during the decay of a radionucleotide into a more stable form

A
  1. ejection of a neutron
  2. ejection of a proton
  3. conversion of. aneutron to a proton + ejection of beta particle
  4. conversion of proton to neutron + ejection of positron
  5. release of gamma rays
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14
Q

what is ejected when a neutron is converted to a proton

A

beta particle

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15
Q

what is ejected when a proton is converted to a neutron

A

a positron

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16
Q

results of radionuclide decay 3

A
  1. diff types of radiation
  2. formation of new nuclide
  3. change in proton number
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17
Q

what is alpha radiation

A

the ejection of particles from the nucleus that carry a charge of 2+ and have a mass of 4 atomic mss units

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18
Q

alpha radiation is equivalent to a nucleus of ______, can be denoted as ^4 v2 __ or ^4 v2 a

A

helium
He

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19
Q

emission of an alpha particle causes the mass number of a radionuclide to ____ by __ units and atomic number to ____ by __ units

A

decrease
4
decrease
2 `

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20
Q

example of alpha decay – uranium to ?

A

thorium
238 –> 234
92 –> 90

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21
Q

what is beta radiation

A

conversion of a neutron to a proton with ejection of an electron (beta particle)

OR

converstion of a proton to a neutron with ejection of an positron

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22
Q

beta radiation example tritium –> ?

A

helium
- emission of a beta particle and a neutrino

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23
Q

what is gamma radiation (γ)

A

emission of energy as electromagnetic waves (photons)

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24
Q

what is the wavelength of photons

A

very short!
0.0005-0.1nm

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25
frequencies of gamma radiation
above 10^19 Hz
26
does gamma radiation involve altered atomic or mass number
NO. it results from energy changes in the nucleus
27
what does gamma radiation result from
results from energy changes in the nucleus
28
gamma radiation often accompanies ____________ as the energy of the _________ is ________ during radioactive decay
alpha or beta raditaion radionuclide lowered
29
what usually accompanies alpha or beta radiation
gamma radiation
30
define nuclear medicine
use of radiation in healthcare practice
31
define radiotherapy
treatment: destruction of targeted cells (esp for cancer)
32
define nuclear imaging
diagnosis: providing detailed info about internal organs
33
advantages of nuclear imaging over x ray 2
can be applied to soft tissues as well as bones allows internal organ function to be observed from outside the body
34
diagnostic techniques in nuclear imaging -- the process? 2
1. attachment of radionuclide (tracer) to biologically active molecule -- called radiopharmaceutical 2. progress can be traced via gamma rays -- using gamma camera
35
what are radiopharmacueticals
designed to target a part of the body where there may be abnormality/disease
36
example of radiopharmaceuticals iodine and glucose
iodine is taken up by thyroid gland, glucose taken up by brain = tracer is attached to these molecules
37
what do radiopharmacueticals allow for
allows for examination of organs for abnormality - 'cold spots' where isotopes are partially taken up, 'hot spots' in excess
38
2 requriements for tracers
must emit gamma rays w enough energy to escape from the body must have half-life long enough for the scan to be complete before decaying
39
3 benefits of technetium-99m as a radiopharmacuetical
1. half-life 6hours -- active long enough for examination, decays quickly = minimise exposure 2. decay = release of gamma rays, low-energy electrons = low radiation dose + can be detected 3. artificial element generated in nuclear reactors (molydenum-99 decays)
40
what is the most commonly used radiopharmaceutical
technetium-99m (80% of all procedures)
41
define radioactivity
involves the emission of energy and particles from the nucleus as an atom decays into a more stable form
42
explain ionising effect of radiation
ionising radiation has enough energy to interact with an atom and cause the removal of electrons forms highly unstable radicals
43
what is ionisation density
average energy released along a unit length of their track - alpha,beta,gamma differ in ionisation density
44
ionisation density of alpha vs gamma
alpha has +2, relatively high mass = HIGH ionisation density gamma - lower = same dose, prod radicals more sparsely
45
why is radioactivity is dangerous to living cells
exposure to emissions = ionisation of biological molecules in cells/water = forms radicals
46
impact of radioactivity on DNA
double helix structure = can break when ionised = cell death / mutation
47
what is MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
application of NMR spec presence of magnet radio waves used to generate electronic signal - decoded by computer = 2/3 D images does not involve nuclear stuff
48
what is MRI used for
diagnosing living tissue - hydrogen atoms present in water molcules which make up 70% of body mass
49
process of positron emission tomography (PET)
radionuclide w positron emitting tracer inserted into body -- accumulates in target tissue positrons combine w electrons = energy released as gamma rays gamma rays detected by camera
50
common tracer for PET scanners? what is it bonded to and why does it help with diagnosing cancer
fluorine-18 - bonded to glucose - uptake of glucose diff in cancer cells than normal cells
51
what is radionuclide therapy
treatments involving irradiating the area containing the growth, with aims of controlling / eliminating the cancer
52
why are cancer cells especially succeptible to damage from radiation
cancer cells = normal cells that lose regulatory mechanisms for control of growth and division rapidly dividing = more sensitive to damage BC ionising effect primarily affects DNA that CONTROLS CELL DIV
53
side effects of radiotherapy due to?
effects of radiation on surrounding tissue - causes changes in the DNA of healthy as well as cancerous cells (esp those that divide rapidly like hair follicles)
54
name some side effects of radiotherapy
- hair loss (usually temporary) - sterility (more likely near ovaries/testes) - skin reaction - fatigue (req rest and hydration) - nausea (mroe likely near digestive system)
55
process of EXTERNAL radiotherapy
external source of radiation is directed at site of cancer from radioactive source - emits gamma rad = penetrates and damages cancer cells
56
what is usually used in external radiotherapy
cobalt-60 undergoes beta decay into stable product nickel-60
57
benefits of recent developments in external radiotherapy
greater precision in targeting of ionising radiation minimum damage to surrounding tissue (esp useful for brain cancer)
58
name the 2 recent developments in external radiotherapy
linear accelerator and gamma knife radiosurgery
59
process of linear accelerator? (recent development in external radiotherapy)
type of particle accelerator -- microwave tech used to accelerate electrons aimed at heavy metal target prod high energy x rays precisely directed at tumour
60
process of gamma knife radiosurgery (recent devt in external radiotherapy)
tiny beams of gamma rad focused on tumour from approx 200 cobalt-60 sources strong dose at site where beams converge

HL Chem (28 decks)

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