Radiology |
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Nuclear Medicine
In hospitals or on hospital dramas on TV, you've probably seen patients undergoing radiation therapy for cancer , and doctors ordering PET scans to diagnose patients. These are part of the medical specialty called nuclear medicine . Nuclear medicine uses radioactive substances to image the body and treat disease. Nuclear medicine looks at both the physiology (functioning) and the anatomy of the body in establishing diagnosis and treatment.
Nuclear medicine is another specialty offered by the Radiology Department at Providence Hospital . Our experienced radiologists and technologists, specializing in nuclear medicine, work with patients and referring physicians to help offer additional information about a condition or suspected issue. After the results are received, patients should talk with their primary care or referring physician about the results and to see if additional tests are needed.
Using a specialized gamma camera and a radioactive pharmaceutical, sometimes described as a dye or tracer, radiologists are able to see a series of images and understand better how an organ is functioning. The tracer is absorbed by the organ of interest and emits gamma rays, which are then detected by a gamma camera. A computer processes the pictures and the end result is a series of images that a radiologist can interpret.
During imaging sessions, patients will be asked to lie still for between 20 and 45 minutes, depending on the type of test. Providence Hospital offers some of the most advanced imaging equipment available, such as the dual headed gamma cameras. Images are taken and processed twice as fast - and that means convenience and comfort for our patients.
Nuclear medicine imaging is safe and effective. The tracer is typically excreted out of the body through normal means or simply loses the small amount of radioactivity that it originally had.
Reasons your physician might order nuclear imaging:
- Bone fractures
- Arthritis
- Bleeding of the bowel
- Blood flow issues
- Cancer or benign tumors
- Gallbladder blockage
- Heart function
- Abnormal thyroid function
For more information call: The Outpatient Diagnostic Center at (202) 269-7054/7055.
