Nuclear

1. What is Nuclear Medicine?

Nuclear Medicine is a diagnostic procedure used to diagnose and detect abnormalities and the progression of certain diseases. Nuclear medicine exams help show organ function or the lack of organ function. This makes it unique, unlike other tests that diagnose based on the presence of disease by structural appearance. Radio-pharmaceuticals may be used to aide in identifying pathology.

2. How Radiopharmaceuticals work?

In Nuclear Medicine a radiopharmaceutical may be needed to do your scan. Radiopharmaceuticals work by emitting gamma radiation, which is detected by a special camera. Small amounts of radiopharmaceutical are designed to be injected, swallowed or inhaled. Each radiopharmaceutical or radioisotope is specifically used depending on the body function being examined for disease status. There is not another imaging method that utilizes radioisotopes to monitor the body function in such a way.

3. What will happen to the radiation in me after the test?

If radioisotope is given at the time of your nuclear medicine exam, a small amount of radioactivity will still be present. The radiation inside you is a very low dose and normally does not interfere with normal activity. While radiation will be present inside you it will dissipate with time. Patients will be asked to drink extra fluids to help eliminate the radioisotope. The day of your procedure radiation can be detected for a short time after the exam. So avoiding pregnant women and airport detectors is advised. Mother’s milk for breast-feeding infants should be pumped before the test or avoid for several days after just to be on the safe side.

4. What is Radiation?

Radiation is all around us. It can come from the space, rocks, soil, television sets and even your microwave. Radiation can be harnessed to produce gamma rays used to create diagnostic images. Radiation is released from energy; this energy helps us to produce the images that allow us to see inside the body. Nuclear Medicine uses this process to help physicians to see bodily functions of organs, pathology and activity of bones.

5. Is radioactivity harmful?

Being exposed to large amount of radiation can be harmful. In Nuclear Medicine procedures radioisotopes are given in very small doses and are carefully selected to be safe and effective tools in diagnostic medicine and treatment of disease.

6. What kind of things can Nuclear Medicine aide in diagnosing?

Nuclear Medicine has many valuable uses. It can identify pathology while monitoring heart function to see if blood is pumping adequately. Nuclear Medicine is one of the most widely used form of testing to evaluate organ function such as stomach, lung, blood volume, vitamin absorption and bone density. It can be useful to see small bone fractures that otherwise may not be seen. It has been used to find cancers, to detect Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and along with many other uses.
Nuclear Medicine is a necessary tool to assist physicians in helping to heal their patients. Patients may be asked to have several tests to determine a specific health problem. Talk to your physician to know what is best for you.