About Nuclear Imaging Technology

In contrast to diagnostic X-rays, which study anatomy, nuclear medicine studies the function of organs and tissues. This is done by injecting a small amount of a radioactive substance (also called a tracer) that is then detected with a special scanner or camera. The tracer is absorbed, or “taken up” by certain tissue types that are active and/or metabolizing energy, such as tumors, kidneys, bones and heart muscle. When a tracer is taken up by cancer cells, for instance, it produces a brighter image on the scan, which helps doctors identify them. Read more https://int.livhospital.com/nuclear-medicine/

The tracer is injected into your body in a vein or swallowed, and then accumulates in the area being studied. Then, the tracer gives off radiation that is picked up by detectors in a special camera, also known as a gamma or nuclear medicine scanner. A computer then analyzes the images and creates pictures that offer details about both structure and function. Typical nuclear medicine tests include a parathyroid scan to detect tumors in the gland; a sodium-fluoride PET (positron emission tomography) scan to diagnose bone and joint problems; a gallium, technetium-99m or indium white blood cell scan to find infection or inflammation; a hepatobiliary scan with technetium-sestamibi to check for disease of the liver; and a pulmonary ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan to look at lungs.

Inside the Nuclear Medicine Department: What Patients Can Expect

The amount of radiation a patient receives during a nuclear medicine procedure depends on the type of test and how much tracer is used. The amount of radiation is usually described in millisieverts (mSv). The tracers used for nuclear medicine meet the FDA’s strict standards for safety and effectiveness, and are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).