Nuclear Medicine Radiology (nuclear radiology)

Nuclear medicine is a subspecialty of radiology which involves the use of radioactive medication (radiopharmaceuticals) to diagnose and treat disease. These radioactive materials are usually injected into a vein, but are sometimes swallowed or inhaled.

A gamma camera tracks the movement of the radiopharmaceuticals from outside the body by detecting the gamma radiation emitted by the medication. Depending on the type of test, two or three dimensional images of the internal body can be created.

Radiopharmaceuticals can be used to treat hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, solid tumours and bone metastases.

Nuclear medicine tests and procedures include:

• Cerebral Perfusion Study;
• Iodine -131 Therapy;
• MIBG Scan;
• Nuclear Medicine Bone Scan;
• Nuclear Medicine Cardiac Stress Test;
• Nuclear Medicine DMSA Scan;
• Nuclear Medicine Gated Blood Pool Scan;
• Nuclear Medicine Renal Scan;
• Nuclear Medicine Thyroid Scan;
• Octreotide Scan;
• Parathyroid MIBI Scan;
• PET Scan;
• SPECT-CT Scan;
• VQ Scan;
• Whole body MIBI myeloma scan.

Page last modified on 17/10/2016.