Overview of Nuclear Imaging
Nuclear imaging uses small amounts of radioactive materials called radiotracers that are typically injected into the bloodstream, inhaled or swallowed. It is a method of producing images by detecting radiation from different parts of the body after a radioactive tracer is given to the patient. Nuclear medicine imaging provides unique information that often cannot be obtained using other imaging procedures and offers the potential to identify disease in its earliest stages.
The nuclear imaging can be used to monitor functional and molecular
processes by radiolabeling of specific chemicals of a biological specimen. This
branch of radiology is often used to help diagnose and treat abnormalities very
early in the progression of a disease, such as thyroid cancer.
Why its need
Nuclear medicine imaging procedures are noninvasive. With the exception of
intravenous injections, they are usually painless. There are legitimate
concerns about possible cancer induction even by low levels of radiation
exposure from cumulative medical imaging examinations, but this risk is
acceptable to be quite small in contrast to the expected benefit derived from a
medically needed diagnostic imaging study.
Types of Nuclear Imaging
Bone density scan
Bone density scanning also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry or
determines if you have osteoporosis a disorder characterized by bones that are
more fragile and more likely to break. This test helps to estimate the
density of your bones and your chance of breaking a bone. The bone density test
is painless and quick. It estimates how dense or thick your bones are by using
X-rays.
Cardiac PET perfusion
This procedure evaluates the blood flow through the coronary arteries to the
heart muscle using a radioactive tracer. However, the widespread use of PET MPI
has been limited by the shortcomings of the current PET perfusion tracers.
It can show areas of the heart muscle that aren’t getting enough blood flow.
This test is often called a nuclear stress test.
Cardiac PET sarcoid
It is a manifestation of the systemic sarcoid disease that leads to
significant morbidity and mortality. Lung and intrathoracic lymph nodes are
classic sites of involvement; however, sarcoidosis can affect any site in the
body. This inflammatory disease affects multiple organs; usually include
abnormal masses or nodules consisting of inflamed tissues that can form in the
heart.
Cardiac PET viability
Cardiac Positron emission tomography viability imaging is used to assess how
much heart muscle has been damaged by a heart attack or heart
disease, an evaluation of the functional status of the heart, and
whether the heart has suffered permanent damage. Positron emission tomography
(PET) is a unique modality that evaluates myocardial viability via assessing
the tissue's metabolic and perfusion properties.
Cardiac SPECT perfusion
Cardiac SPECT perfusion is used to evaluate the heart's blood supply. Two
sets of images showing blood flow are obtained: the first following a period of
rest, and the second following a period of stress, which involves exercise on a
treadmill. A small intravenous catheter will be placed in your arm. Imaging is
performed twice, once at rest, and a second after cardiac stress.
PET/CT scanning
A PET-CT scan combines a CT scan and a PET scan. It gives detailed
information about your cancer. The scan uses a special dye containing
radioactive tracers. These tracers are swallowed, inhaled, or injected into a
vein in your arm depending on what part of the body is being examined. By
identifying changes at the cellular level, PET may detect the early onset of
disease before other imaging tests can.
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