ADVANCED-PHYSICS-Applications of Medical Physics: Radiation Therapy, Nuclear Medicine

Applications of Medical Physics: Radiation Therapy, Nuclear Medicine
Medical physics is the application of physics to medicine. It plays a very important role in
diagnosing and treating diseases, especially in the fields of radiation therapy and nuclear
medicine.
1. Radiation Therapy: This is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill
cancer cells or shrink tumors. Radiation can destroy the DNA inside the cancer cells, which
stops them from growing and multiplying. Special machines like linear accelerators are used to
deliver this radiation to specific parts of the body without damaging the surrounding healthy
tissue.
Example: A patient with a brain tumor may receive radiation therapy to destroy the tumor cells
while keeping the healthy brain tissue safe.
2. Nuclear Medicine: In nuclear medicine, small amounts of radioactive materials (called
radiotracers) are used to diagnose or treat diseases. These radiotracers can be injected,
swallowed, or inhaled. They go to the part of the body being examined and emit energy that can
be detected by special cameras, producing detailed images.
Example: PET scans (Positron Emission Tomography) use radioactive tracers to create images
that show how tissues and organs are functioning, which is useful for detecting cancer or heart
disease.
Equation: Dose of radiation (in Grays) = Energy absorbed by tissue / Mass of the tissue