Introduction to Nuclear Medicine
Dr. Amir BahadurNuclear Medicine Physician
Definition
Branch of medicine which deals with diagnosis and treatment of diseases with the help of un-sealed* radioactive* sources.
Radio-active*
• Radiation emitting substances• Different types of radiations• Beta emitters---- therapeutic purposes• Gamma emitters---- diagnostic purposes• Different from non-radioactive diagnostic
chemicals (iodinated contrast media used in barium studies, CT scan and MRI)
Un-sealed*
• Out of protective shields• Introduced in to the patient’s body• Radiations are coming out of the patient• Different from radiology (sonography, X-ray,
MRI) where sound waves, radiation and magnetic field are outside the patient’s body and in the source
NM DivisionsNuclear Medicine
DIAGNOSTIC
SCANS
RIA
THERAPUTIC
SCANS
Scans
• Scintigram--- more technical name• Scintigraphy ---- technical name for
procedure• Around 200 types of scans in NM• Each organ and system of body imaged
* Primarily FUNCTIONAL IMAGING
* Functional Imaging
• Nuclear Medicine scans target physiological activity/ processes
• Different from radiology which is primarily STRUCTURAL IMAGING.
* HYBRID IMAGING
*Hybrid imaging
• SPECT – CT• PET- CT• SPECT –MRI• PET- MRI
Scan Procedure
• Radioactive tracer (radio-tracer/ radio-pharmaceutical)
• Gamma camera image acquisition • Processesing and image printing • Reporting
Scan Procedure
Radiotracer
Delivery in to patient
Gamma camera
Processesing Reporting
Radio-active tracer
• Radio-active tracer alone or radio-active moiety combined with organ/ system specific pharmaceutical.
• Alone ---- Tc-99m, I-131• Radio-Labeled
pharmaceuticals---- DTPA, DMSA, MDP, HIDA, MIBI, etc.
Delivery of radio-tracer
• Intra-venous injection (most common)
• Orally • Inhaled • Into cavities • Into shunts
Gamma Camera Image Acquisition
• Time interval post delivery
• Proper positioning • Proper time • Interventions like
fatty meal, CCK, Morphine, Lasix, Captopril, etc
Image Acquisition Types
Dimensions
Planar
SPECT
Processing
• Acquired image data is processed on special software
• End images reproduced on page, film or CD/DVD
Reporting
• Nuclear medicine physician
• Review of all available clinical data and images, report is generated.
RIA BASED LABORATORY
Radio-immuno Assay
• Most specific and sensitive method
• Hormones and tumor markers
• Thyroid hormones• Fertility
Hormones• Tumor markers
THERAPEUTIC NUCLEAR MEDICINE
Nuclear Medicine Therapies
• Radioactive Iodine for thyrotoxicosis and differentiated thyroid Carcinoma
• Radioactive Phosphorus for polycythemia and bone pain palliation
• Synovial joints• Pleural effusion• Ascites• Neuro-endocrine
tumors• Targeted therapy
like zevalin
Examples
of
Nuclear Medicine Scans
Thyroid Scan
• Graves disease• MNG• Solitary thyroid nodule • Lingual thyroid • Thyro-glossal fistula• Remnant thyroid
tissue • Thyroiditis
Bone Scan
Renal DTPA Scan
Renal DMSA Scan
HIDA Scan
PET
• Positron emission tomography• Future of nuclear medicine imaging and
cancer care • Also lots of uses in non-malignant disorders
My Mentor’s Slogan
IMAGING LIFE