Nuclear Medicine: Diagnosing and Treating Illness

Nuclear Medicine combines very small amounts of short-lived radioactive materials (radiotracers) with precise imaging scans to diagnose, manage and treat disease.

By using radiotracers to “photograph” certain organs, such as the heart, brain, kidneys, liver, thyroid and lungs, nuclear medicine specialists can safely, effectively and painlessly determine if they are working properly.

These commonly performed biological imaging procedures are an integral part of patient care, providing early detection of abnormalities, often before they become apparent with other diagnostic tests. Without these procedures, this information would otherwise be unavailable, require surgery or necessitate more invasive diagnostic tests.

Radiotracers enter the body through injection, swallowing or inhalation. The radiotracers are detected by special cameras that work with computers to provide precise pictures of a specific area or organ in the body. Unlike MRI and CT scans that give only structural information, nuclear medicine tests provide information about the functional status and viability of different organs and tissues.

Imaging of the area or organ is performed immediately, hours or days after administration of the tracer, depending on the type of test. The duration of imaging itself ranges from 15 to 60 minutes; most tests require the patient to lie down on a bed, while others require the patient to sit.

Nuclear Medicine studies are interpreted by the radiology group at Northern Westchester Hospital at White Plains Radiology Associates, P.C.  White Plains Radiology has 50 board-certified Radiologists on staff with expertise in multiple areas of diagnostic imaging including Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Neuroradiology and Interventional Radiology.

To make an appointment for a Nuclear Medicine study call 914.666.1798.

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