What is Nuclear Medicine?

Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty involving the use of radioactive tracers (radiopharmaceuticals) to visualize organs and tissues and diagnose a variety of diseases. Small amounts of radioactive materials are introduced into the body, usually intravenously, and specialized cameras detect the radiation emitted to create images. These images show the function of the organ or tissue being examined, rather than just its structure, which differentiates it from other imaging modalities like X-rays or CT scans. Common uses include diagnosing heart disease, identifying bone fractures, detecting cancer, and assessing thyroid function.