Nuclear Medicine Experts

Radiology excels in detailing anatomical structures, but nuclear medicine tracers and specialized scans offer critical functional insights into cells and organs. For example, a nuclear medicine bone scan can reveal bone density and fractures. Nuclear medicine tracers can also detect and monitor many types of cancer. NYU Langone’s Division of Nuclear Medicine is equipped to perform a wide range of examinations including brain perfusion and ventilation/perfusion lung scans, thyroid and parathyroid imaging, skeletal imaging for osteoporosis or scoliosis, renal and non-PET oncologic nuclear medicine scanning (MIBG and Octreotide), and many other nuclear medicine tests.

Nuclear Medicine Experts physicians, also known as radiologists, are highly trained in both diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications of small amounts of injected radioactive materials. This unique combination of skills allows them to identify abnormalities at the cellular and tissue level, such as early cancers, ligament tears, thyroid problems and coronary artery disease, using imaging methods like SPECT scan, PET scan and scintigraphy.

The Role of Nuclear Medicine in Early Disease Detection

Medical physicists are experts in the interactions between radiation and matter, and they play a key role in developing new nuclear medicine instruments and data analysis approaches for clinical use. Their duties include developing and testing new equipment, performing quality control for existing instruments, making dose calculations and creating computer programs to process images and data.

A nuclear medicine technologist works closely with the physician to prepare patients for imaging procedures. They are trained in obtaining important patient history, explaining the procedure and answering questions. The technologist administers the radiopharmaceuticals, which can be injected or swallowed, and then scans the area to obtain images for interpretation. This may take a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the exam type.