magic-bullet approach

magic-bullet approach

Etymology: Gk, magikos, sorcerer; Fr, boulette, small ball; L, ad, toward, prope, near

1 a therapeutic or diagnostic method that makes use of a specific relationship between a drug and a disease or organ.

2 (in clinical medicine) the administration of a specific drug to cure or ameliorate a given disease or condition.

3 (in traditional diagnostic radiology) the administration of a specific dye to facilitate the radiographic visualization of a given organ, such as the IV injection of a specific dye for renal studies.

4 (in nuclear medicine) the administration of a specific radionuclide tagged to an appropriate carrier to provide a scintillation camera image of a given organ or structure, such as the use of a substance containing phosphate and technetium for bone scanning.