Question

A patient is injected with a radioactive isotope to trace blood flow and detect circulation issues. The isotope used is more likely to be:

Options

A
Iodine-131
B
Phosphorus-32
C
Cobalt-60
D
Sodium-24

Explanation

The correct answer is Sodium-24, as it is commonly used in medical imaging to trace blood flow and detect circulation issues. Its emission of gamma rays allows for effective imaging. In contrast, Iodine-131, while useful in thyroid diagnostics, does not serve the purpose of tracing blood flow. Phosphorus-32 is primarily used for treating blood disorders rather than for imaging, and Cobalt-60 is mainly associated with cancer treatment. Therefore, Sodium-24 is the most appropriate choice for the scenario described.

Iodine-131 is primarily used in thyroid function tests and treatments, not typically for tracing blood flow.

Phosphorus-32 is used mainly in the treatment of certain blood disorders and not for imaging blood flow or circulation.

Cobalt-60 is utilized in cancer treatment and radiation therapy, rather than in diagnosing circulation issues.

Sodium-24 is a radioactive isotope that is specifically effective for tracing blood flow and detecting circulation issues due to its ability to emit gamma rays detectable by imaging equipment.