ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies types of applications of different types of radioactive compounds. It also identifies salient elements in the formulation and dispensing of radiopharmaceuticals. In a hospital setting, radiopharmaceuticals are typically handled by the nuclear pharmacy or radiopharmacy, involved in the preparation of radioactive materials for diagnosis and/or treatment of specific diseases. In diagnostic applications, radiopharmaceuticals accumulate in specific tissues or cells and emit radiation, which can be collected and processed into images, showing the location of the accumulation in the body, for diagnostic purposes. Institutions, such as hospitals, that handle radioisotopes have a medical isotope committee to carefully guide, monitor, and control the handling of the radioisotopes to maintain patient and user safety. The quantity of radioactive material is measured in terms of activity rather than mass. The amount of radioactivity is typically expressed in the units of Curie, which is a measure of radioactivity per unit mass of material.
