Isotopes are present in most of the chemical elements. When protons and neutrons are combined artificially as they do not exist naturally, the atom becomes unstable and this is called as a radioactive isotope or radioisotope. Radioisotopes are manufactured in a number of ways. The very common way is by activation of the neutron in a nuclear reactor. Some radioisotopes are manufactured in a cyclotron where the protons are introduced to the nucleus. This article describes the relation between nuclear medicines and radioisotopes.

The nuclear medicines make use of the radiation for providing diagnostic information regarding the functioning of the particular organs and treating them. Radiotherapy is also used for treating some of the medical conditions like cancer with then use of radiations by destroying the target cells. Nowadays, a number of nuclear medicines procedures are performed and the demand for the radioisotopes is rising rapidly.

The radioisotope used widely in the nuclear medicines is technetium-99m. It is basically used in about 80% of all the nuclear medicines. This is an artificially produced isotope from the element technetium having all the peculiar features of a nuclear medicine.

Nuclear Medicines and Radioisotopes go hand in hand. The kind of radioactive isotope used in the medicines should have those peculiar features that will keep the dose of radiation to its minimum for the patient. There are two types of isotopes: stable and unstable. The stable isotopes are used by researchers for diagnosing the disease, answering the fundamental questions in nature as well as form understanding the metabolic pathways in the humans.

Some examples of the stable isotopes that are used in nuclear medicines are nitrogen-15, carbon-13 and oxygen-18. The stable isotopes are also used in custom synthesis of complex and new compounds that can be used in the field of drug testing, biology, agriculture, biology, nutrition, chemistry, health, physics and in the techniques of diagnosis in medicines.

The different combinations of Nuclear Medicines and Radioisotopes are:

* Cobalt 60- for external beam therapy

* Erbium 169 (2h)- for relieving arthritis pain in then joints

* Holmium 166- for treating and diagnosing the tumors of the livers

* Rhenium 186- as a pain relief in cancer

* Phosphorus 32- for treating polycythemia vera- a condition where the red blood cells is excess.

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