Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine is a safe, painless and effective way of gathering information. It uses very small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose and sometimes treat disease. A unique aspect of a nuclear medicine test is extreme sensitivity to abnormalities in an organ's structure or function. This aids physicians in diagnostic problems early in progression, such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis and infection.

How Does Nuclear Medicine Work?

  • The patient receives a radioactive material (isotope).
  • The isotopes travel to targeted organs and tissues.
  • The isotopes emit gamma rays that are detected by special cameras (gamma cameras).
  • These cameras produce an image.
  • The images and reading are studied to formulate a diagnosis by the radiologist.
What Are the Benefits of Nuclear Medicine?
  • Used to detect metabolic disease as it progresses in the body
  • Sensitive to abnormalities
  • Diagnose diseases early in progression
  • Used in the prevention of disease
  • Has diagnostic as well as therapeutic applications ranging from:
    • Oncology
    • Renal
    • Cardiac
    • Pulmonary
    • Other applications, such as Graves Disease, acute cholecystitis, and gastrointestinal bleeding
Safety of Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine is an important medical tool that is safe and effective. The patient only receives a small amount of short-lived radioactive material that wears off in a matter of hours. It is just enough radioactive material to provide sufficient diagnostic information. The amount of radiation is compared to a diagnostic X-ray (chest X-ray).