[Radioisotope methods and technics in obstetrical and gynecological diagnosis]

Certain applications of radioisotopes to obstetric and gynaecological diagnosis are illustrated. Radioisotopes have been widely employed since the improvement in instrumental methods and the availability of short-life radioisotopes has removed the basic limitation which once prevented their use during the entire fecund period of the woman owing to the risk of radiation damage to the reproductive system. Particular attention is paid to the advances made in placental localization, in the study of thyroid and renal function in pregnancy, in the study of the diffusion of female genital tumours and relapses, and in early diagnosis of tumours of the uterus and ovaries. Dosimetric problems arising when using diagnostic techniques with radioisotopes in obstetrics and gynaecology are analysed.