How is nuclear medicine different from an X-ray, a CT scan, an ultrasound or an MRI?
Why is it called nuclear medicine? Nuclear medicine refers to medicine (a pharmaceutical) that is attached to a small quantity of radioactive material (a radioisotope). This combination is called a radiopharmaceutical. There are many different radiopharmaceuticals used to study different parts of the body. The one chosen for your study will depend on your medical condition needing diagnosis and/or treatment. Top How do radiopharmaceuticals work? Radiopharmaceuticals are introduced into the patient’s body by injection, swallowing or inhalation. The amount given is very small. The pharmaceutical part is designed to go to a specific place in the body where there could be disease or an abnormality. The radioactive part emits radiation – known as gamma rays (similar to X-rays) – which is then detected using a special camera called a gamma camera. This type of camera lets the radiologist see what is happening inside your body. Top Is the radioactivity harmful? The amount of radiation in a ty
