The underlying principle in diagnostic medicine is that the radiation dose to the patient is as low as possible, compatible with the required quality of imaging and the diagnostic advantage in comparison to non-radioactive methods. In internal radionuclide therapy, a localized well-defined radiation dose need to be deposited in a malignant or inflammatory tissue to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. The significance of nuclear data in the choice and medical application of a radionuclide is considered.
Radionuclides find application in nuclear medicine, both in the diagnosis and internal radiotherapy. Each application, however, demands a special type of radionuclide, the choice being dependent on its decay properties. The two major physical considerations in the internal use of radionuclides are: (a) suitability for imaging (b) radiation dose caused to the patient For in vivo…
