Reference no: EM132409963

1. Why is iodine used for thyroid imaging (as opposed to any other element)?

2. I-129 is an extremely rare isotope of iodine with a half-life of 15.7 million years. Assuming it was much more abundant in nature, would I-129 be a good substitute for I-123 or I-131 in thyroid imaging? Why or why not?

3. Although both I-123 and I-131 can be used in imaging of the thyroid, only I-131 is used in treating thyroid cancer. What difference in radioactivity between I-123 and I-131 accounts for this preference?

4. Sometimes non-radioactive isotopes of iodine can be preferred depending on the intended medical use. For example, many people preparing for a nuclear disaster stockpile KI tablets (non-radioactive). Why would someone consume KI during a radioactive disaster? Would you consider purchasing KI tablets as a precaution? Why or why not?