What is Nuclear Radiology?

Nuclear Radiology is a sub-discipline of radiology that uses small amounts of a radioactive substance to diagnose and treat medical conditions. It’s an exciting field that combines aspects of chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer technology, and medicine. Nuclear Medicine physicians are dedicated to minimizing radiation exposure and using the most precise diagnostic imaging techniques possible.

In nuclear medicine imaging, a patient is given an injection of a tiny amount of a radionuclide (also known as a tracer) to study how it is absorbed by the body tissue. The radionuclide may be chemically bound to a complex that acts characteristically within the body, or it could be a radiolabel (such as technetium-99m infusion for bone scans). When a diseased tissue absorbs a tracer, gamma radiation is emitted from that area of the body, which can be picked up by a detector called a gamma camera. These images are used to provide critical functional information about organs or tissues and are a valuable complement to the diagnostic imaging tools of radiology, such as X-rays and MRI.

Inside the Nuclear Medicine Department: What Patients Can Expect

Some of the most common nuclear medicine studies are parathyroid scans (to look for tumors in your parathyroid gland), a thyroid scan to test your thyroid function, lung ventilation-perfusion scans to evaluate blood flow to and from your lungs, and a white cell location scan to detect infection or inflammation in your body. Our specialists are also experts in interpreting these exams and developing a treatment plan, if necessary.