ROLE OF RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS

This chapter significantly defines Tuberculosis (TB) as an infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus. M. Tuberculosis is rod-like in shape, highly aerobic and it requires high levels of oxygen. It’s a serious illness which mainly affects the mammalian respiratory system. Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge, requiring continuous efforts to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes. It can spread very rapidly from one infected person to uninfected person however the dividing rate of the bacteria is much slower than other bacteria. TB can be categorized as being active or latent. Active TB is more contagious, and it causes symptoms where latent TB on the other hand doesn’t cause any sort of symptoms and is not contagious. The general symptoms being seen in active TB infection are fever, cough, chills, weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite etc. If a person is infected with latent TB infection, they possess TB bacteria in their body but it’s inactive which means there are no such symptoms to be seen. Radiopharmaceuticals, with their ability to emit radiation and provide functional imaging, have emerged as valuable tools in TB management. This abstract presents an overview of the advancements and applications of radiopharmaceuticals in tuberculosis diagnosis and therapy. Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, primarily based on gamma-emitting isotopes like Technetium- 99m and Fluorine-18, have proven influential in visualizing active TB lesions within the lungs and extra pulmonary sites. Utilizing single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging modalities, these agents aid in precise lesion localization, enabling accurate disease staging and treatment planning. Furthermore, novel in vivo imaging agents have been developed to target specific molecular markers associated with TB infection, facilitating early detection and monitoring of treatment response. These targeted radiopharmaceuticals offer a promising approach to better understand the pathogenesis of TB and identify potential biomarkers for improved disease management. Radiopharmaceuticals have the potential to transform tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, but there are still challenges to overcome, such as regulatory approvals, cost effective and accessibility in resource-limited areas.