Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive drugs used for what purposes?

• A. Imaging only
• B. Therapy only
• C. Imaging and research
• D. Treatment and diagnosis

Answer: (D)

Radiopharmaceuticals are designed to both visualize disease and deliver targeted treatment. They pair a radioactive atom with a molecule that seeks out specific tissues, so the emitted radiation can be detected to create diagnostic images or directed to diseased cells to provide therapy. For imaging, the radiation is captured by cameras or scanners to show how an organ or tumor is functioning, aiding diagnosis and monitoring. For therapy, the same principle delivers a cytotoxic dose to diseased tissue, helping to treat cancer or other conditions with potentially less impact on healthy tissue. Because they can fulfill both roles, their broad clinical use is described as treatment and diagnosis. Examples include using radioactive iodine for thyroid imaging and treatment, and targeted radiopharmaceuticals like lutetium-177 compounds for therapy.