The Role Of Radiopharmaceuticals In The Pediatric Therapy

Abstract

This thesis explores the use of radiopharmaceutical therapy in treating cancer in children, with a focus on how imaging and treatment can be combined through a "theranostic" approach — using diagnostic scans to guide and personalize therapy. It looks at commonly used treatments for pediatric cancers such as neuroblastoma and neuroendocrine tumors, and discusses how radiation doses are calculated and adjusted for children, who require different safety considerations than adults. The thesis also reviews newer types of radioactive treatments being studied for their potential to more precisely target tumors while limiting harm to healthy tissue. Overall, the work highlights both the promise and the current limitations of these treatments in children, and points to areas where more research and standardized guidelines are needed to make this approach safer and more widely available.