Summary

This book, by Irène Joliot-Curie, presents a comprehensive overview of the practical uses of radioactivity in the medical field, particularly focusing on therapeutic and diagnostic applications developed during her time. It details how radioactive isotopes can be employed to target and destroy diseased cells, such as cancerous tumors, and also outlines their utility in tracing biological processes within the body for diagnostic purposes.

The work emphasizes the scientific principles underlying these applications, including the properties of different isotopes, their detection methods, and the dosage considerations crucial for safe and effective medical treatment. Readers gain an understanding of the foundational science and early methodologies that paved the way for modern nuclear medicine, highlighting the significant contributions of Joliot-Curie and her contemporaries.

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Key concepts

Radiotherapy — The medical use of ionizing radiation to treat cancer.
Radioactive Isotopes — Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons, possessing varying radioactive properties used for medical applications.
Tracer Studies — Using radioactive substances to follow the pathway of substances within a biological system.
Radiation Dosage — Determining the appropriate amount of radiation to deliver for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.