Nuclear medicine is often an integral part of
patient care. It uses radioisotopes to create images of the
body - images that give doctors important information about
how the body is functioning. This information helps diagnose
disease, determine the best course of treatment and monitor
the effectiveness of therapy for cancer, lung and heart disease
and stress fractures.
Nuclear medicine uses very small amounts
of radioisotopes or radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and
treat disease. Radiopharmaceuticals are directed towards
the areas of the body where physiological activity is
taking place, such as sites repairing bone damage or battling
infection. When radiopharmaceuticals are introduced into
the body, they give off a kind of energy that can be viewed
using a special type of camera (gamma camera). Because
many radiopharmaceuticals have a short life span (usually
hours), they must be used within a limited time frame.
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