NUKLEAR MEDICINE

Nuclear medicine is a branch of science that involves the use of radioactive isotopes for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. The nuclear medicine department utilizes radioactive substances to assess organ functions and plays a significant role in the early diagnosis of diseases and the planning of appropriate treatment. Advanced imaging devices and techniques are widely used, particularly in oncology, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, and neurology departments. Nuclear medicine methods are also employed in the diagnosis of thyroid disorders, endocrine system disorders, kidney diseases, reproductive system disorders, gastric and intestinal diseases, liver and biliary tract diseases, cancer, and many other conditions.

In nuclear medicine applications, the imaging of bones, tissues, or organs is performed using pharmaceuticals administered through veins or orally. These pharmaceuticals, specifically tailored for each tissue and system, emit gamma rays when used for diagnostic purposes, which can be detected by a gamma camera. This allows the visualization of the location and level of the molecule labeled with the radioactive substance. Radioactive substances administered for therapeutic purposes emit beta rays, aiming to deform unwanted tissues such as tumors located within bones, tissues, or organs, with the goal of restoring the patient’s health.

What Is Nuclear Medicine, What Does It Do?

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine that involves imaging specific regions of the body and, when necessary, eliminating tumor-like formations in the relevant tissues, bones, or organs. Nuclear medicine methods provide information about the structure and functionality of organs, bones, and tissues, and they are used in the diagnosis and treatment of many significant diseases. Low doses of radioactive substances and radiopharmaceuticals are used in nuclear imaging techniques. Radiopharmaceuticals are substances that bind to specific tissues when administered into the body. When bound with a radioactive substance, they are referred to as radiopharmaceuticals and emit gamma rays due to radioactivity. These emissions, detected by specialized cameras connected to computers, provide detailed information about the imaged part of the body. Low amounts of radioactive substances are administered to individuals to determine the location of molecular activity within the body, allowing for the diagnosis, assessment of severity, and treatment of various cancer types, cardiovascular health, endocrine, gastrointestinal, neurological disorders, and other abnormalities present in the body. Therefore, nuclear medicine methods enable the diagnosis and treatment of many different diseases before the symptoms manifest in an individual. Physicians specializing in nuclear medicine, who work with devices such as PET/CT and SPECT/CT, undergo six years of medical school education followed by four years of specialization training in nuclear medicine.

Which Diseases Is Nuclear Medicine Used In The Diagnosis?

Nuclear medicine is used in the diagnosis of various diseases by administering a low dose of radioactive substance to the patient through intravenous injection, injection, or oral route. The reason for administering the medication to the patient is for it to reach the targeted organ or tissue and accumulate there. Once the medication accumulates in the region of interest, the tissue or organ is imaged using special cameras. The images are then transferred to a computer for evaluation by nuclear medicine specialists. Nuclear medicine procedures are applied in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases.

Nuclear Medicine is used in the diagnosis of many diseases and conditions. Some of the diseases categorized by specialty include:

Lung Disorders: Used in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, a condition characterized by blood clots in the lungs.

Kidney Disorders: Used to investigate kidney infections, urinary leakage, and blockages in the urinary tract.

Heart Disorders: Used to explore the cause of certain cases of hypertension, diagnose coronary artery disease, and evaluate patients who have undergone bypass surgery.

Neurological Disorders: Used in brain and neck surgeries, as well as for locating the focus of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy, and evaluating patients scheduled for epilepsy surgery, dementia, and certain stroke conditions.

Oncological Disorders: Used for detecting the presence and location of tumors, determining the stage of tumors, assessing whether the tumor has spread to other tissues and organs, and providing pain relief for cancerous bones.

Orthopedic Disorders: Used for detecting hidden fractures and bone infections.

Other Disorders: Used in the evaluation of conditions such as goiter, gallbladder disorders, gastrointestinal bleeding, esophageal and gastric diseases, lymphatic system examination, detection of hidden infections, and evaluation of salivary glands.

• Remember to prioritize regular health screenings for a healthy lifestyle.