What is nuclear medicine ?
Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that uses radioactive properties for medical purposes. Radioactive substances, or radionuclides, have the particularity of emitting different types of radiation, which pass through the organs differently depending on their density. This property is used to observe organs during their functioning, thus allowing the study, diagnosis and monitoring of a large number of diseases. Nuclear medicine provides two-dimensional, and now three-dimensional, images. It complements radiology, ultrasound and MRI.
High doses of radioactive radiation can also destroy certain cells. This is used for the targeted eradication of cancerous tumours, and is known as vectorised radiotherapy.
What does a nuclear-medicine physician do?
To obtain images, the nuclear-medicine physician will inject radioactive elements, or “tracers”. Using specially adapted detection equipment, the physician can visualise the diffusion of a tracer in the organs for which a functional image is required.
- Gamma scintigraphy
- Pet-scan – Positron-emission tomography.
These systems make it possible to obtain extremely accurate images of the heart muscle, lungs, thyroid, brain, etc. Using these images, the physician can detect deep lesions or diseases in the very early stages of development.
When to see a nuclear-medicine physician?
Referral to a nuclear-medicine physician is generally the decision of a specialist (oncologist, organ specialist) who requires accurate images to make a diagnosis and monitor the progress of a disease or treatment. The multidisciplinary team (MDT) monitoring a cancer sufferer may also refer the patient, given that nuclear medicine plays a particularly useful role in the care protocol put in place.
What are the risks of nuclear medicine?
Nuclear imaging does not present any particular risk, as doses and exposure time to radionuclides are low. Some patients may be allergic to tracers (particularly iodine), but this risk is assessed before the procedure begins.
Radiotherapy can cause side effects that vary depending on the dose administered, the technique used, other treatments and the area to be treated. Some side effects may appear in the days or weeks following irradiation (redness of the skin, difficulty swallowing, swelling, etc.), while others may appear several months later (change in skin colour, pain, joint stiffness, heart problems, etc.). The doctor will advise the patient on how to avoid or limit these side effects and may recommend specific medication.