Which of the Following Accurately Describes Radioactive Isotopes When Used

Question

Which of the following accurately describes radioactive isotopes when used as diagnostic tracers?
A)Radioactive isotopes are used by cells differently than the analogous chemical. This allows for the identification of differences in cellular metabolism.
B)Radioactive isotopes used in chemical reactions in the cell are not hazardous to organisms.
C)Radioactive isotopes are incorporated into biological molecules allowing for the tracking of cellular metabolism.
D)Elevated isotope in a location in the body indicates the isotope is not being metabolized by the cell.
E)Positron-emission-tomography detects reduced chemical incorporation of the radioactive isotope.

Accepted Answer

Radioactive isotopes are often incorporated into biological molecules and tracked through metabolic processes to diagnose diseases or study cellular metabolism. For example, radioactive glucose is often used to track glucose metabolism in cells. This approach is a common diagnostic tool in nuclear medicine.