Radiology and Lab Services
Nuclear Medicine Overview
Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that uses safe, painless and cost-effective techniques both to image the body and treat disease. Nuclear medicine imaging is unique in that it documents organ function and structure, in contrast to diagnostic radiology, which is based upon anatomy. It is a way to gather medical information that may otherwise be unavailable, require surgery, or necessitate more expensive diagnostic tests.

Nuclear medicine is used in the diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of serious disease. Nuclear medicine imaging procedures often identify abnormalities very early in the progression of a disease - long before some medical problems are apparent with other diagnostic tests. This early detection allows a disease to be treated early in its course when there may be a more successful prognosis.

Nuclear medicine uses very small amounts of radioactive materials or radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and treat disease. Radiopharmaceuticals are attracted to specific organs, bones, or tissues. The radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine emit gamma rays that can be detected externally by special types of cameras: gamma or PET (positron emission tomography) cameras. These cameras work in conjunction with computers used to form images that provide data and information about the area of body being imaged. The amount of radiation from a nuclear medicine procedure is comparable to that received during a diagnostic x-ray.

Nuclear medicine is used head to toe with nearly one hundred different nuclear medicine imaging procedures available.

 Nuclear Medicine Overview

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Question:
Why is nuclear medicine so unique?
Nuclear medicine allows information to be discerned about body structures and physiological functions prior to onset of actual physical symptoms. This technique allows for early diagnosis of potentially serious disorders with more promising outcomes.