Medical Specialist: Nuclear Me... Health Article

Medical Specialist: Nuclear Medicine

A Nuclear Medicine physician is a doctor with three years additional training in advanced uses of radiopharmaceuticals to evaluate pathologic conditions of the body. Nuclear Medicine includes molecular imaging utilizing imaging systems to detect diseases or response to therapy. Nuclear Medicine specialists use anatomic imaging combined with molecular imaging (PET or CT scans). Nuclear Medicine physicians are experts in tracer kinetics, radiation exposure, physical sciences, radiation detection and imaging systems..

Associated Diseases and Procedures

• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Cancer diagnosis and staging
• Treatment of lymphoma
• Treatment of thyroid cancer
• Relieving metastatic bone pain
• Gallium scan
• PET scan
• CT scan
• Myocardial perfusion scan
• Bone scan
• Renal scan

Reference:

American Board of Medical Specialties, 2006-2008.