Nuclear Medicine

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diagnostic imaging, medical imaging, medical image

Diagnostic Imaging

Diagnosing injuries, diseases and conditions would be nearly impossible today without the range of methods available to look inside the human body. This guide explains the different techniques, how they work, and what to expect if one of them is ordered for you.

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

Computed tomography scans, or CT scans, combine X-rays with a computer’s assistance to create ... read more »

Endoscopy

Endoscopy allows doctors to see inside the human body by inserting a narrow tube with an attached ... read more »

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnets, and sub-atomic structures in the body, to look at ... read more »

Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine is primarily used to examine organ function rather than structure. To see how an organ is working, a patient ingests a small amount of radioactive material. By measuring the behavior of the material during a nuclear scan, an assessment can be made. The sites below provide an introduction to nuclear medicine, including how nuclear medicine scans are performed and what to expect during such a scan.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • The amount of radioactive material a person swallows or is injected with for nuclear medicine scans is very small, and usually leaves the body a day or two after the test.

Dulcinea's Picks

For an overview of nuclear medicine …
The University of Virginia Health System explains what nuclear medicine is and how nuclear medicine scans are performed.
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For nuclear medicine’s uses …
RadiologyInfo describes specific types of nuclear medicine procedures, such as lymphoscintigraphy and cardiac nuclear medicine.
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For what to expect during a nuclear medicine test …
Cleveland Clinic explains how nuclear imaging is different from other radiologic tests, and describes what to expect before, during and after the test.
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For a glossary of nuclear medicine terms …
The Society of Nuclear Medicine has a short glossary of words and acronyms commonly used in nuclear medicine.
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For nuclear medicine and kids …
RadiologyInfo takes parents step-by-step through what their child can expect during a nuclear medicine study.
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Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a procedure used to generate images of structures and tissues within the body. Images ... read more »

X-Ray

X-ray technology is one of the oldest imaging methods available. Even though there are more ... read more »

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