Alternate Names : Nuclear Medicine Scan, Nuclear Radiography, PET Scan, Radioactive Uptake, Radioisotope, Radionuclide Organ Imaging, Scintillation

Definition

Nuclear Radiology is a sub-specialty of Radiology in which radioisotopes (compounds containing radioactive forms of atoms) are introduced into the body for the purpose of imaging, evaluating organ function, or localizing disease or tumors.

Unlike conventional or computed radiography (such as plain X-rays and CT scans) in which X-ray beams are generated within a machine and projected through the patient, in isotope studies the radiation (gamma rays) originates from within a radiopharmaceutical (material tagged with a radioisotope) in the body.

Special detector cameras are placed close against the area of interest for a period of time, and once enough gamma rays are "seen," a computer creates an image representing where the isotope localized within the organ or body.

Generally, nuclear medicine scans do not provide the level of anatomic detail seen on X-ray, ultrasound, CT, or MR images. However, correlation with other imaging, clinical information, and laboratory results helps identify and confirm disease.

See bone scan, nuclear ventriculography (MUGA or RNV), pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan, thyroid scan, lung scan, and renal scan.