THE ROLE OF NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY IN MEDICINE

Nuclear chemistry is one of the important scientific fields of modern medicine and plays a significant role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. This article discusses the use of radioactive isotopes in medicine, the principles of radionuclide diagnostics, positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and radionuclide therapy. It also examines the properties of radiopharmaceuticals, their distribution throughout the body, and their biological effects. Advances in nuclear chemistry make it possible to detect oncological, cardiovascular, and thyroid diseases at an early stage and improve treatment effectiveness. At the same time, the safe use of ionizing radiation, compliance with radiation protection regulations, and optimization of the radiation dose received by patients are of great importance.