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Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine is the medical specialty that uses internally administered radioactive materials, called radioisotopes, to help diagnose and treat a wide variety of diseases. Nuclear medicine is a subspecialty within the field of radiology. Nuclear medicine comprises diagnostic examinations that result in images of body anatomy and function. The images are developed based on the detection of energy emitted from a radioactive substance given to the patient, either intravenously or by mouth. Generally, radiation to the patient is similar to that resulting from standard x-ray examinations.
Nuclear medicine imaging techniques give doctors another way to look inside the human body. The techniques combine the use of computers, detectors, and radioactive substances. These techniques include:
• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
• Cardiovascular imaging
• Bone scanning
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Related topics -
MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging, X-Ray, CT Scanning