Sadra Medical Journal

Ionizing Radiations in the Management of COVID-19 Infection: A Narrative Review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

Farshid Gheisari 1, 2
Mehdi Shariat 3
Mohammad Kamali 4
Mohammad Reza Daneshmandi 4
Mohammad Atefi 1
Amirsalar Motamedi 4

1 Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

4 School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30476/smsj.2026.106471.1619
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for advanced diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in the management of this infection. Ionizing radiation has long been leveraged in medicine for essential purposes, including the diagnosis and treatment of malignancies and infections. Nuclear medicine exploits these radiations in imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), which provide valuable insights for diagnosis, follow-up, and understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, computed tomography (CT), which utilizes X-ray radiation, plays an important role in diagnosing COVID-19 respiratory infection. Targeted radionuclide therapies—such as those employing Auger electron emitters and alpha particles—have been investigated as potential therapeutic tools against SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, gamma and X-rays are deployed in the sterilization of medical equipment and the production of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. This narrative review aimed to briefly examine the applications of ionizing radiations in the management of COVID-19 infection, with an emphasis on recent developments. While further research is required for clinical implementation, ionizing radiation offers considerable current and potential applications in the battle against COVID-19.
 

Keywords

Radiation, Ionizing
Nuclear Medicine
Positron-Emission Tomography
Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
COVID-19
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Sadra Medical Journal
Volume 14, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 541-551

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