Nuclear medicine from Becquerel to the present.

Abstract

During a period of a little over ninety years, the use of radioactive materials has moved from the discovery of natural radioactivity by Becquerel to the use of highly sophisticated equipment for in-house production of biologically important molecules labeled with radionuclides, for the measurement of body functions. Radiation detectors have progressed from photographic plates and the gold leaf electroscope to the routine use of improved scintillation detectors for imaging the three-dimensional distribution of radioactive materials in the body as a function of space and time. It is expected that future improvements will be along the line of instruments with better spatial resolution, contrast, and sensitivity. Advances in hardware and software will be more than matched by developments in radiopharmaceuticals, including the use of monoclonal antibodies and receptor mapping agents which promise the exquisite specificity and sensitivity of radioimmunoassay procedures.

An Update on Diagnostic Imaging Techniques in Veterinary Practice

“…Henri Becquerel radioactivity discovery two months later too was a serendipitous (Graham et al, 1989). But it was Georg de Hevesy who applied the radioisotopes to the study of plant and animal metabolism (Hevesy, 1923), which later earned him Nobel Prize in 1943 (Moran and Heffernan, 2010).…”

An introduction to nuclear medicine

“…While working with uranium, Becquerel noticed that photographic material would be exposed (fogged) if in close proximity to uranium. 1 Th e main diff erence between the discovery of x-rays and radioactivity was that, unlike x-ray, other scientists had not made similar observations. For Roentgen, his fi ndings provided science to the anecdotal evidence of many others and, was intuitive and immediately adopted.…”

“…Several years later (1898), the Polish Marie Curie and her French husband Pierre discovered radium and interest in radioactivity became more widespread. 1 Radium very quickly replaced x-rays for industrial radiography. In 1899 Rutherford discovered alpha and beta particles and in 1900 Villard discovered gamma rays.…”

“…In 1899 Rutherford discovered alpha and beta particles and in 1900 Villard discovered gamma rays. 1 Alexander Graham Bell briefl y dabbled in nuclear medicine, suggesting the use of radioactive sources to treat tumours in 1903 and in 1913 it was reported as useful for various diseases. 1 While these activities represent the pioneering days in nuclear medicine, they also represent the early years of radiotherapy.…”

“…1 Alexander Graham Bell briefl y dabbled in nuclear medicine, suggesting the use of radioactive sources to treat tumours in 1903 and in 1913 it was reported as useful for various diseases. 1 While these activities represent the pioneering days in nuclear medicine, they also represent the early years of radiotherapy. Nonetheless, radionuclide therapy remains a central activity in nuclear medicine quite independent of the applications of radiotherapy today.…”