Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear Medicine involves the use of small amounts of radioactive materials (often called “tracers”) to help diagnose and treat a variety of diseases. Nuclear Medicine helps to determine the cause of the medical problem based on the function of a tissue, organ, or system.

Nuclear Medicine tests are safe and painless.

In a Nuclear Medicine test, the radioactive material is introduced into the body by injection, ingestion, or inhalation. The material emits radiation known as gamma rays (similar to x-rays) that are then detected using a special camera called a gamma camera. During the imaging procedure, the patient is asked to lie down on a table and the gamma camera is placed a few inches over the their body. Pictures are then taken for varying amounts of time, depending on the study.