Physics in Medicine

Mar 144 min read

Edited by Reyhan O.

Skillman, NJ

DNA, health, medicine, doctor, Elin, Elin Su — Physics in often used in the medical field

In the medical field, engineers and other scientists are necessary in order to make medical advancements to save lives. Physics and medicine may have drastic differences, but they come together to form a branch of science known as medical physics, where a scientist’s knowledge of physics is applied to diagnose, treat, or cure illnesses. It contributes to the areas of nuclear medicine (where radiation is used to treat disease) and radiology (the study of tumors). Lasers, MRIs, ultrasounds, and X-rays are also developed through medical physics.

Radiology

Radiology is a specialized area in the medical field that utilizes medical imaging to diagnose or treat disease. Such exams consist of:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): an exam that uses a magnet and radio waves (without radiation) to create scans of internal human structures, such as bones, muscles, and organs.
Ultrasonography (ultrasound): a test utilizing sound waves (no radiation) to map biological
structures, such as organs and tissues.
X-ray: one of the most common screening methods—it uses electromagnetic waves to generate images of the insides of the body, with the light not passing through the solid parts of our bodies.

There are many different specialized types of these exams, with different strengths and weaknesses. Some may be used to detect specific diseases!

Diagnostic radiologists are scientists who use such imaging exams to determine if a patient is carrying a disease! They must excel at assessing an individual’s health by looking inside their body as well as know the proper methods to treat each condition.

There are also radiation oncologists, whose jobs are to continue the process of a patient’s treatment journey by creating a personalized treatment plan suited to each person’s individual requirements. If needed, they may also give radiation therapy.

Both types of radiologists (and many more) must have a sufficient background in physics so that each imaging procedure can be performed with as safe an amount of radiation as possible. Too much radiation can be extremely bad for a person, while too little might not give as accurate screening results.

Radiology and physics are related in that the definition of radiation in physics is the production or transmission of energy waves. Different types of radiation, such as infrared and ultraviolet, radio waves, and the light we are able to see, are parts of our everyday environment. Luckily, humans are able to receive low doses of radiation with little to no side effects. The same cannot be said for higher doses, but we have regulatory safety limits put into place to minimize the negative health effects.

Radiation and physics are relevant, as radiation is a branch of physics. A good understanding of how radiation works is mandatory in order to promote safe imaging procedures.

Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine is a specialized section of the medical field that utilizes radiopharmaceuticals, or radioactive materials, to assess the conditions of organs and tissues. The tracers, after an injection or ingestion, carry particularized cameras that allow doctors to view diagrams of internal structures. This is commonly effective when trying to diagnose a patient, but can also be a technique used to treat diseases by demolishing biological structures contributing to the advancement of the ailment.

Radiology and nuclear medicine differ as they use different techniques to generate images. The former uses external waves, while the latter makes use of internal radiation waves inside the human body.

medicine, medical, imaging, scan, brain — Nuclear medicine brain scan

Some imaging tests that involve nuclear medicine consist of:

Positron Emission Tomography (PET): an imaging procedure that utilizes concepts from biochemical analysis and nuclear medicine to examine the functions of the body’s organs and tissues.
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT): creates three-dimensional models of how different organs are functioning, as well as should bones be affected by cancer, through a radioactive tracer with a specialized camera to detect that gamma ray, which is a type of radiation with a high energy concentration.

These tomographies assist doctors in examining how biological structures are functioning, which sets them apart from the rest.

Nuclear medicine can also involve iodine, a radioactive mineral, to treat different cancers. An example treatment would be,

Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) Therapy: treats prostate cancer, which causes the prostate to grow uncontrollably, and uses a tracer to target the PSMA protein to delay more tumor development.

While the above therapy does not necessarily cure cancer, it is effective when the patient does not respond positively to surgery or other treatments. Afterward, the patient will receive periodic testing and check-ups before being deemed “symptom-free.” Nuclear medicine works to save lives.

Nucleologists are the physicians who specialize in nuclear medicine. They are required to have extensive knowledge of nuclear physics to recognize which atoms are available to be used in diagnostics and therapeutics to prevent accidental breaking of radiation regulations.

Importance

Medical physics also has ties to biomedical physics, mainly involving the study of radiation and applying existing knowledge of that to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, commonly cancer. The purpose of a medical physicist is to ascertain the safe use of medical devices through their knowledge of physics. They put their lives at risk daily to ensure the safety of others, and that itself is greatly admirable.