Nuclear Medicine

Service Description

Nuclear Medicine is a modality within diagnostic imaging, which looks at the physiology of the body rather than the anatomy. Services of Memorial’s Nuclear Medicine Department include, but are not limited to, cardiac studies, bone studies, gall bladder studies and infection studies. Imaging is performed using very small amounts of radioactive materials – comparable to the radiation with a diagnostic X-ray - administered either orally, via intravenous or under the skin. The radionuclide will travel through the blood stream to the target organ. The organ is then scanned for anatomical structures, function and disease. Nuclear medicine procedures can be used to diagnose hyperthyroidism (Grave's Disease), cardiac stress, orthopedic problems, abnormal function or blockages of gall bladder or liver, as well as for metabolic brain evaluations, and the staging of oncology patients.