Immunoscintigraphy
Encyclopedia
Immunoscintigraphy is a procedure used to find cancer cell
s in the body by injecting a radioactively
labeled antibody
, which binds predominantly to cancer cells and then scanning
for concentrations of radioactive emissions.
Cancer cell
Cancer cells are cells that grow and divide at an unregulated, quickened pace. Although cancer cells can be quite common in a person they are only malignant when the other cells fail to recognize and/or destroy them. In the past a common belief was that cancer cells failed to be recognized and...
s in the body by injecting a radioactively
Radionuclide
A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus, which is a nucleus characterized by excess energy available to be imparted either to a newly created radiation particle within the nucleus or to an atomic electron. The radionuclide, in this process, undergoes radioactive decay, and emits gamma...
labeled antibody
Antibody
An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...
, which binds predominantly to cancer cells and then scanning
Scintigraphy
Scintigraphy is a form of diagnostic test used in nuclear medicine, wherein radioisotopes are taken internally, and the emitted radiation is captured by external detectors to form two-dimensional images...
for concentrations of radioactive emissions.
See also
- Use of technetium in nuclear medicine
- scintigraphyScintigraphyScintigraphy is a form of diagnostic test used in nuclear medicine, wherein radioisotopes are taken internally, and the emitted radiation is captured by external detectors to form two-dimensional images...