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Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine
In nuclear medicine diagnosing techniques, very small amounts of radioactive materials,
mostly
99m
Tc labeled radiopharmaceuticals, are introduced into the body. Because they
are attracted to specific organs, bones or tissues, the gamma emissions produced can
provide useful information about a particular type of cancer or disease. Information
gathered during a nuclear medicine technique is more comprehensive than other imaging
procedures because it describes organ function, not just structure. The result is that many
diseases and cancers can be diagnosed much earlier.
Because nuclear medicine procedures utilize very small doses of short-lived isotopes
(ones that only remain radioactive for a few hours or days), the amount of radiation
received is generally less than or equal to that of an x-ray. Whole body and healthy tissue
doses can be minimized while the radioisotope is targeted toward the affected tissue or
organ. The main application of nuclear medicine can be summarized as:
Ü
Nuclear medicine uses traces of radioactive materials to image different organs in the
body.
Ü
It helps the doctors diagnose disease and measure the function of each organ.
Ü
The amount of radiation involved is small ¡V the dose is similar to that from x-ray
investigations.
Ü
It can help find out the cause of pain in bones, chest or the abdomen.
Ü
It can be used to measure how well the heart pumps and how well the kidneys are
functioning.
Ü
It can detect infection in the bowels and problems with the blood supply to the lungs.