What are gamma rays used for in medicine?

What are gamma rays used for 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 properties make gamma rays useful?

Gamma-rays have the smallest wavelengths and the most energy of any other wave in the electromagnetic spectrum. These waves are generated by radioactive atoms and in nuclear explosions. Gamma-rays can kill living cells, a fact which medicine uses to its advantage, using gamma-rays to kill cancerous cells.

What gamma source is used in medicine?

Technetium-99 is a gamma emitter (half-life 6 hours) and is used in medicine as a tracer. In medical applications, in a suitable chemical form, the radioisotope is injected into the body and its ‘movement’ can be followed by a suitable external detector system.

Are gamma rays harmful or helpful?

Gamma rays can be helpful as well as harmful (and are very unlikely to turn you into the Hulk). To destroy brain cancers and other problems, medical scientists sometimes use a “gamma ray knife.” This consists of many beams of gamma rays focused on the cells that need to be destroyed.

What are 2 uses of 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 are the risks of gamma rays?

Dangers and Uses of Gamma Rays The extremely high energy of gamma rays allows them to penetrate just about anything. They can even pass through bones and teeth. This makes gamma rays very dangerous. They can destroy living cells, produce gene mutations, and cause cancer.

What causes gamma rays?

Gamma rays originate from the settling process of an excited nucleus of a radionuclide after it undergoes radioactive decay whereas X-rays are produced when electrons strike a target or when electrons rearrange within an atom.

Can you do chemo and radiation at the same time?

In the treatment called chemo-radiation, you will get both chemotherapy and radiation at the same time. Chemotherapy weakens the cancer cells which helps radiation to work better. Your treatment team consists of your medical oncologist and your radiation oncologist.