How are gamma rays used in imaging?
Imaging with gamma rays is creating medical diagnostic images using gamma rays emitted by tiny amounts of radionuclides administered to patients, photons of penetrating electromagnetic radiation emitted from an atomic nucleus.
How are gamma rays used for medical purposes?
Uses in Medicine Gamma rays are widely used in medicine and specifically in the area of oncology to treat malignant and cancerous tumors during a process called gamma knife surgery. In this type of treatment, concentrated beams of gamma rays are directed at tumors in order to kill cancerous cells.
What is gamma imaging used for?
Diagnostic Procedures The gamma camera, also called scintillation camera, is the most commonly used imaging device in nuclear medicine. It simultaneously detects radiation from the entire FOV and enables the acquisition of dynamic as well as static images of the area of interest in the human body [67].
What are 3 uses for gamma rays?
Gamma rays are used in medicine (radiotherapy), industry (sterilization and disinfection) and the nuclear industry. Shielding against gamma rays is essential because they can cause diseases to skin or blood, eye disorders and cancers.
What properties of gamma rays make them useful in medicine?
Gamma rays are the most useful type of radiation because they can kill off living cells easily, without lingering there. They are therefore often used to fight cancer and to sterilise food, and kinds of medical equipment that would either melt or become compromised by bleaches and other disinfectants.
Why do we use gamma rays to treat cancer?
Both Gamma and X-rays are effective treatment for cancer as they expose the cancer cells to ionizing radiation that damages the cancer cells DNA. Treatment techniques exist to improve treatment effectiveness by concentrating the radiation to the tumor while minimizing the does to normal surrounding tissue.
What are the dangers of using gamma rays?
One of the most horrific dangers of gamma rays comes when these strong forms of energy are utilized in large doses. Gamma rays can alter or harm healthy cells in the body. As a result, tumors or cancerous cells may continue to grow. Gamma rays are also the energy which is involved in some of the most tragic accidents.
What are practical uses of gamma rays?
Gamma rays, namely in the form of a radionuclide called cobalt 60, are used to preserve food in the same way as they are used to sterilize medical equipment in that they irradiate decay causing bacteria.
