Re: I-131 in thyroid cancer , medicine student question

Dear Mitocondria:

On Mar 27, 1:01 am, Mitocondria <mach...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Folks!

May I ask you about the molecular mechanisim of the
Iodo 131 in the destruction of thyroid canceorus cells?

I-131 is used in radiotheraphy while i-129 is use in
image diagnosis for contrast.

What are the radioactive decay products? Alpha particles have almost
no penetration distance, but lots of "punch" (think "hand grenade").
Beta (+/-) particles will go further, and are usually very energetic,
possibly travelling inches in soft tissue (think "shiper's bullet").
Gamma usually is easily detectable outside the body, since we are "as
opaque as a little smoke" to gamma radiation.

Maybe there is no detectable different "molecular mechanism" among the
different isotopes of iodine...

David A. Smith
.