What Is Nuclear Medicine?
Radioactive materials are not the first thing one thinks of when it comes to the field of medicine. And yet, medical technologies have found a number of uses for radiation. The field of nuclear medicine is a specialty area that works with radioactive materials. Here's some more information on what nuclear medicine is and how it's used.
Identification
What distinguishes nuclear medicine from other types of medicine is the method used to diagnose and treat illnesses. At the center of this method are specialized imaging processes that rely on the laws of radioactivity. In a nutshell, radioactivity has to do with destabilized atoms and molecules, and the energy they give off.
A destabilized atom is one whose proton-neutron-electron structure has been disrupted, either by another colliding atom, or by a high-powered ray of light. Whenever an atomic particle is forced out of its center, energy is dispersed. This dispersed energy is what nuclear medicine uses to read, or track what's going on inside the body.
Features
There are three basic components to the imaging techniques used in nuclear medicine: radioactive substances, detectors (cameras) and computers.
In order to see what's going on, radioactive substances are injected in the area of the body being treated. Camera devices then photograph the energy patterns being given off by the radioactive substances. From there, the computers compose an image based on the information received from the cameras.
Function
Nuclear medicine relies on the fields of chemistry, physics, medicine, mathematics and computer technology. Other types of imaging processes, like X-rays MRIs or CAT scans, can provide only anatomical representations of the body. The images produced using radioactive agents reveal anatomical structures as well as the processes taking place inside them. In this respect, nuclear imaging techniques provide information that could not otherwise be obtained without the need for exploratory surgical procedures. The method is used to diagnose and treat conditions, some of which include tumors, aneurysms, blood cell disorders, cardiovascular problems and bone scans.
Types
There are two general imaging techniques employed in nuclear medicine. Each technique relies on different radioactive materials for image production. The first one is called a PET ( positron emission tomography) scan. This method uses radioactive substances which have a short life span. The images produced are detailed, and when combined, provide a three-dimensional representation of a body area, as well as the processes taking place inside it.
The second technique is called a SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) scan. The radioactive agents used in this method have a longer life span, and the images produced show less detail than the PET scan. However, they do still provide valuable information on processes taking place inside the body.
The type of radioactive substance used in each technique determines the quality of the image. More expensive equipment is needed to produce the type of radioactive materials used in a PET scan. As a result, PET scans are costly, and the facilities that perform them are few and far between, whereas SPECT scans are more affordable, and more accessible.
Considerations
As innovative as nuclear medicine imaging methods may be, there are some things to consider when deciding on whether, or not to have a procedure done. Radioactive materials are natural. They're all around us in the form of sun rays, and they exist inside every organic material and organism, including our bodies. Nuclear imaging techniques condense and compress the energy contained within these materials, and direct them inside the body.
The reported risks in undergoing these procedures are minimal. As nuclear medicine has been in existence for over five decades, there are no documented long term effects. Incidents of allergic reactions have been observed, however these are rare. Inform your doctor of any medical conditions you have, as well as any family medical history. And as with any other type of imaging procedure, women who are pregnant, suspect they may be pregnant or who are breastfeeding should not undergo nuclear imaging procedures.
Tags: nuclear medicine, imaging techniques, radioactive substances, images produced, inside body, place inside, processes taking
