Assignment 1:3 Definitions – Radiotracer

Although nuclear medicine has only recently become a popular method of diagnosing and treating diseases, radiotracers, which are used in nuclear medicine, has been used in animals since 1924. In the term radiotracer, radio comes from the word radioactive and tracer is a small molecule or antibody label. Since cancer cells are known to uptake glucose at a much faster rate, deoxyglucose are commonly used as tracers in cancer patients. Radiotracers are very useful in showing tissue functions, however, radiotracers cannot be used for necrotic tissues as they do not have any uptake capabilities. Below is a picture that shows how radiotracers are used.