Crash Course
Nuclear Medicine is a specialized imaging modality of Radiology where a small amount of a radioactive material, or radiopharmaceutical, is given to a patient to examine various forms physiological and anatomical function. This part of the medical field involves chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer technology, and medicine to diagnose abnormalities in the body, such as thyroid cancer.
Because X-rays pass through soft tissue, such as intestines, muscles, and blood vessels, these tissues are difficult to visualize on a standard X-ray, unless a contrast agent is used. This allows the tissue to be seen more clearly. Nuclear imaging enables visualization of organ and tissue structure as well as function. The extent to which a radiopharmaceutical is absorbed, or "taken up," by a particular organ or tissue may indicate the level of function of the organ or tissue being studied. Thus, diagnostic X-rays are used primarily to study anatomy. Nuclear imaging is used to study organ and tissue function.