Introduction
Nuclear medicine and radiology use radiation. Radioactive materials, such as radio-pharmaceuticals and radioisotopes, are used in nuclear medicine. X-rays are entered into the body from outside in radiology. In modern hospitals, one-third of all the procedures involve radioactivity or radiation because these radioactive procedures are painless, safe, and effective. After all, anesthesia is not required. A small amount of radioactive material is used to diagnose or treat the disease. During diagnosis, a small camera called a “gamma camera” gives information about the illness or issue in the body.Uses of Nuclear Medicines
Nuclear medicine is used in a wide range of conditions. Some of the uses of nuclear medications are the following:- To notice the proper functioning of the kidney and to detect any drainage
- To see blood clots and other respiratory disorders in the lungs
- To scan brain functioning
- To measure the functioning of thyroid glands
- To detect arthritis, fracture, and infection in bones
- To diagnose the blood flow and functioning of the heart
- To see the presence of disease through white cell scanning
- To treat thyroid disorders, swelling, bone pain, and knee joint pain
Types of Nuclear Medicine Scan
Nuclear medicine helps diagnose a lot of conditions and diseases. During diagnosis, a small amount of nuclear medicine is swallowed, inhaled, or injected into the patient’s body, which helps diagnose the disease with the help of the camera. Some of the common types of nuclear medicine scans and the uses of these scans are the following:-
Bone or Joint Scan:
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Gastric Emptying:
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Hepatobiliary Scan:
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Meckel’s Scan:
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Renal Scan:
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Gallium Scan:
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Gastroesophageal Reflux Study:
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Liver or Spleen Scan:
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MUGA Scan:
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SPECT Brain Scan:
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SPECT Liver Scan:
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Thyroid Scan and Uptake (Radionuclide Iodine uptake):
Nuclear Medicine Treatment
Nuclear medicines are not only used to scan or diagnose the disease but are also helpful in different treatment methods. Some of them are the following:- Radioactive iodine(I-131) treats hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, and overactive thyroid. It is also used to treat bone pain in different types of cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Iodine-131(I-131) also targeted radionuclide therapy(TRT) and induced radioactive iodine into the human body. When the body’s cancer cells or thyroid cells absorb these substances, it kills them.
- Radioimmunotherapy combined with nuclear therapy helps mimic cellular activity and targets the cells that need this therapy.
- Theranostics is a combined term for diagnostics and therapeutics. This nuclear medicine technique is used for diagnosing and treating targeted cells with the help of molecular targeting vectors, such as radionuclides and peptides.
- I-131, or radioactive iodine therapy(RAI), is the most common radionuclide used for treatment. Other options include Zevalin or ibritumomab tiuxetan, which help treat many types of lymphoma. Bexxar and 131-I tositumomab are also used to treat lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
Reference list
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248735
- https://www.atlanticmedicalimaging.com/radiology-services/nuclear-medicine/types-of-nuclear-medicine/
- https://www.bnms.org.uk/page/WhatisNM
- https:// HYPERLINK “https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/nuclear-medicine”www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/nuclear-medicine#:~:text=Nuclear%20medicine%20is%20a%20medical,path%20of%20these%20radioactive%20tracers.
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4902-nuclear-medicine-imaging