Barnes Jewish West County Hospital

Radiology 1

Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine uses very small amounts of radioactive materials (radiopharmaceuticals) to diagnose and treat disease. Radiopharmaceuticals are attracted to specific organs, bones, or tissues and then emit gamma rays that are detected externally by special types of cameras. These gamma cameras work in conjunction with computers to form images that provide data and information about the area of body being studied. The amount of radiation from a nuclear medicine procedure is comparable to that received during a diagnostic X-ray.

Nuclear medicine imaging is unique in that it documents organ function and structure, in contrast to diagnostic radiology, which is based upon anatomy.