Nuclear imaging uses radionuclides for medical imaging to diagnose, treat, and monitor diseases. Radiography and computed tomography are common forms, while other types require the ingestion or injection of radionuclides to provide real-time imaging of specific areas. Nuclear imaging has become safer with technology, but risks remain.
Nuclear imaging is a form of medical imaging in which nuclear isotopes, also known as radionuclides, are used as part of the imaging study, with the goal of obtaining information about the patient’s body that can be used in diagnosis, treatment and in disease monitoring. There are several types of nuclear imaging that can be used in a variety of ways to collect patient data. Usually, the imaging study is ordered by a doctor and conducted by a nuclear imaging specialist, who may be a technician or a doctor, depending on the circumstances.
One of the oldest forms of nuclear imaging is probably also the best known. Radiography involves bombarding the body with electromagnetic radiation to form an image of internal structures. Computed tomography (CT) is a specialized form of X-ray imaging in which “slices” are taken to create a three-dimensional image of the structure of interest.
Other forms of nuclear imaging require the ingestion or injection of radionuclides, with the progress of the isotope through the body followed by a camera capable of detecting the radiation signature. This type of nuclear imaging can be used to provide a real-time picture of function in a specific area of the body, with doctors looking for things like signs that the isotope is leaking, is occluded by a blockage, or behaves in other ways that could suggest an anomaly.
In a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, for example, an isotope is injected into the body and followed as it moves through the patient. The isotope emits gamma rays that can be picked up by imaging equipment, creating a map of the inside of the body and identifying problem areas. Using data from a PET scan, doctors can examine things like the function of the intestinal tract or brain, identifying abnormalities that could indicate the presence of a medical problem.
The use of nuclear imaging has become much safer over the years, thanks to the development of sophisticated technology that reduces overall exposure to radioactive isotopes. The isotopes used in nuclear imaging studies have very short half-lives and are introduced into the body in small quantities so that they can be quickly washed out after the study is complete. However, some risks are inherent in radiation exposure, especially in the case of patients requiring repeat studies, and doctors closely monitor their patients for any signs of radiation-related health problems.
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