| How
do you introduce the radioactive material to
the body?
In a nuclear medicine test,
the radioactive material is introduced into
the body by injection, swallowing, or inhalation
depending on the organ to be examined.
|
| What
are the radioactive materials and how they produce
image?
Radiopharmaceuticals are
substances that are attracted to specific body
organs, bones, or tissues. The radiopharmaceuticals
used in nuclear medicine emit Gamma Rays that
can be detected externally by a special type
of camera: “Gamma Camera”. The camera
works in conjunction with computers used to
form images that provide information about the
area of body being imaged.
|
| Is
the radiation in Nuclear Medicine Dangerous?
The amount of tracer used is carefully selected
to provide the least amount of radiation exposure
to the patient but ensure an accurate test.
The amount of radiation from a nuclear medicine
procedure is comparable to that received during
a diagnostic x-ray.
|
What
parts of the body may be examined by the radioactive
materials?
The following is summary of different examinations
and procedures that might be done in Nuclear
Medicine:
Oncologic Applications:
 |
Tumor
localization, tumor staging, identify
metastatic sites. |
|
Judge
response to therapy. |
|
Relieve
bone pain caused by cancer. |
Orthopedic Applications:
|
Identify
occult bone trauma (sports injuries),
diagnose osteomyelitis. |
|
Evaluate
arthritic changes and extent. |
|
Localize
sites for biopsy in tumor patients, measure
extent of certain tumors. |
|
Identify
bone infarcts in sickle cell disease. |
Renal Applications:
|
Detect
urinary tract obstruction, diagnose renovascular
hypertension. |
|
Measure
differential renal function, detect renal
transplant rejection. |
|
Detect
pyelonephritis, detect renal scars. |
Pulmonary Applications:
|
Diagnose
pulmonary embolism, detect pulmonary complications
of aids, |
|
Quantify
lung ventilation and perfusion, detect
lung transplant rejection, |
|
Detect
inhalation injury in burn patients |
Cardiac Applications:
|
Diagnose
coronary artery disease. |
|
Measure
effectiveness of bypass surgery. |
|
Measure
effectiveness of therapy for heart failure. |
|
Detect
heart transplant rejection. |
|
Select
patients for bypass or angioplasty. |
|
Identify
right heart failure. |
|
Measure
chemotherapy cardiac toxicity. |
|
Evaluate
valvular heart disease. |
|
Identify
shunts and quantify them. |
|
Diagnose
and localize acute heart attacks before
enzyme changes. |
|
Identify
patients at high risk of heart attacks
going to surgery for other reasons. |
Neurological Applications:
|
Diagnose
stroke, diagnose Alzheimer's disease,
|
|
Demonstrate
changes in aids dementia, evaluate patients
for carotid surgery, |
|
Localize
seizure foci, evaluate post concussion
syndrome, diagnose multi-infarct dementia
|
Other Applications:
|
Diagnose
and treat hyperthyroidism (grave's disease). |
|
Detect
acute cholecystitis. |
|
Detect
acute gastrointestinal bleeding. |
|
Detect
testicular torsion. |
|
Detect
occult infections. |
|
