Nuclear Medicine is a specialized area of radiology that uses very small amounts of radioactive materials, known as radiopharmaceuticals or isotopes, to examine the structure and function of organs in both adults and pediatrics. Nuclear Medicine procedures use the low-dose radioactive isotopes to evaluate the function of the lungs, kidneys, endocrine organs and neurological systems. It also helps diagnose and stage certain tumors, and look for infection in the body very early in the progression of a disease. This imaging study is performed using special cameras.

Nuclear medicine techniques include: read more about Nuclear Medicine exams

• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
• Cardiovascular imaging
• Bone scanning
• Kidney function studies
• Thyroid function studies

Nuclear medicine imaging is useful for detecting:

• Tumors
• Aneurysms (weak spots in blood vessel walls)