use of radioisotopes and radiation in the diagnosis of diseases: Whole-Body Counting*

Abstract: C. C. Lushbaugh M. D. Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory University of California Los Alamos New Mexico (A paper for presentation at the Hearings an Applications of Radioisotopes and Radiation in the Life Sciences Joint Committee an Atomic Energy U. S. Congress - March 27 1961) *Work performed under the auspices of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission SUMMARY Large liquid scintillation counters being developed at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory of the University of California for the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission have been shown to have many practical applications to diagnosis in clinical and experimental medicine. Several of these devices called "human counters for assaying radioactivity are large enough to measure the radiation coming from the whole human body after administration of minute amounts of a radioisotope. Measuring such a person for several ensuing days discloses the excretion rotes of the isotope from various bodily compartments and, by this means, various aspects of human metabolism and diseases can be tested and studied. Thyroid uptake of iodide; intestinal absorption of iron, Vitamin B12, and fatty acids; the life span of erythrocytes tagged with radiochromium; and absorption and utilization of trace minerals are all among the studies that can be done with these devices. With a small model, known as the arm counter changes in the amount of circulating radioactive substances can be measured so accurately and rapidly that blood clearance studies can be performed easily, allowing measurement of many hepatic, renal, splenic, and bone marrow functions. Because the whole person or a whole arm is placed within this counting device, alignment is unnecessary and no knowledge of anatomy is needed to perform these measurements. A 2 minute counting time is used. This, along with the minute amount of radioisotope needed and the great precision of the counter, makes such analyses safe, rapid, inexpensive, and accurate. ___MH

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