Open AccessAn introduction to nuclear medicine
Author(s) -
Wheat JM,
Currie GM,
Davidson R,
Kiat H
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
radiographer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.484
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 2051-3909
pISSN - 0033-8273
DOI - 10.1002/j.2051-3909.2011.tb00154.x
Subject(s) - nuclear medicine , medical physics , modalities , single photon emission computed tomography , medicine , medical imaging , nuclear medicine imaging , positron emission tomography , radiology , social science , sociology
Nuclear medicine is the injection, ingestion or inhalation of a radiopharmaceutical for the purpose of diagnosis or therapy. It shares imaging synergies with both planar/general x‐ray and to computed tomography (CT) in its acquisition methods. Nonetheless, the prime difference is that the focus of planar x‐ray and CT is on morphology or anatomy while nuclear medicine has a focus on the evaluation of function or physiology. The history of nuclear medicine follows similar timelines to that of x‐ray. Nuclear medicine, however, had a slower recognition and clinical permeation of its imaging/treatment methods and strengths as well as a delayed recognition of the dangers of these forms of ionising radiation. Both planar x‐ray and planar nuclear medicine, and x‐ray CT and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) have emerged with greater integration in order provide improved diagnostic utility of each modality; the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The strengths of x‐ray imaging modalities and the treatment approaches used in radiation therapy are well understood by diagnostic radiographers and radiation therapists. An understanding of the technical and clinical aspects of nuclear medicine and its imaging and treatments strengths can provide improved service provision and patient care.