[Radioactive isotopes in the diagnosis and therapy of tumors]

The Author, after some historical accounts, widely deals with physics and chemistry of the atom that are the necessary presupposition to the knowledge of the mechanisms of action of radio-isotopes. He hence exposes the radio-isotopes applications with special consideration to the action of radiations on the organism and the possibility of diagnosis and therapeutics with radioisotopes in oncology. The Author concludes that radio-isotopes must not be considered separately in the therapeutics of tumours, but as main component of the whole anti-tumour armament (surgical, consentional radiological, chemi-therapeutic) in which the immune-therapeutics is proving itself with fascinating possibilities.