Radioisotope therapy in pulmonary disease.

RTIFICIAL A radioactive isotopes have been wideIy utiIized in cIinica1 investigations for nearIy two decades. Yet of the more than ninety artificiaIIy produced radioisotopes presentIy available, onIy tweIve have been found usefu1 in the treatment of human iIIness. Of these only four (I-I 3 I, P-32, Au198 and Co-60) are now being cIinicaIIy utiIized in the treatment of diseases of the chest, principaIIy puImonary cancer. NevertheIess, many paIIiative benefits have thus been gained. They may be measured in terms of reIief from distress and disability, and occasional prolongation of useful and comfortabIe life. avaiIabiIity. It appears that I-131, P-32 and the coIIoida1 suspensions of Au-198 and P-32, as presentIy empIoyed, bareIy qualify as “ideal” therapeutic agents for interna administration in intrathoracic cancer.