Radiomimetic
Imitating radiation.
A radiomimetic drug is one that imitates the effects of radiation as in the case of chemicals such as nitrogen mustards which are used in cancer chemotherapy.
The “mimetic” part of “radiomimetic” comes from the Greek verb “mimeisthai” meaning “to imitate” and from “mimos” meaning “mime.” (The English word “mime” also comes from “mimos” as do “mimic” and “mimicry.”)
Read Also:
- Radionuclide
An unstable form of a chemical element that radioactively decays, resulting in the emission of nuclear radiation. Also called a radioisotope.
- Radionuclide scan
A nuclear medicine examination in which a minute amount of radioactive material is labelled to commonly found substances in the body such as iodine or phosphate. As those radioactive substances go to their normal positions in the body, images of bones, thyroid tissue, and other organs are created. Also called an isotope scan.
- Radionuclide stress test
A procedure that involves injecting a radioactive isotope, typically thallium or cardiolyte, into the patient’s vein after which an image of the patient’s heart becomes visible with a special camera. The radioactive isotopes are absorbed by the normal heart muscle. Nuclear images are obtained in the resting condition, and again immediately following exercise. The two […]
- Radiopaque
Opaque to one or another form of radiation, such as X-rays. Radiopaque objects block radiation rather than allow it to pass through. Metal, for instance, is radiopaque, so metal objects that a patient may have swallowed are visible on X-rays. Radiopaque dyes are used in radiology to enhance X-ray pictures of internal anatomic structures. The […]
- Radiosensitive
Sensitive to X-rays and other forms of radiant energy. For example, if a tumor is radiosensitive, it is potentially treatable with radiation therapy. The opposite of radiosensitive is radioinsensitive.