What are the advantages and limitations of nuclear medicine?

Molecular imaging: Nuclear medicine has the ability to examine the molecular basis of disease by using very low levels of radioactivity that targets the disease-specific biomarkers and specific organs. The downside is it uses radioactivity (very little) and has somewhat limited resolution, but the modern scanners are attached to other modalities such as ct or mri.

Many...: In general nuclear medicine looks at the function of organs and systems. Other radiologic tests (for the most part) look at structure or anatomy. However there are some ct, MRI and ultrasound techniques that can evaluate organ function. Nuclear images are not very pretty, but usually the abnormals are fairly obvious (excellent contrast resolution). Other imaging test show the anatomy better (excel.

Pro: functional data: Advantage: gives information on function limitations: poor at looking at structure detail or anatomy.

Physiologic study: Nuclear scans involve ingestion, intravenous injection, inhalation, subcutaneous injection , instillation into bladder of isotopes, radiotracers, in order to see function of various organs of body, heart, lungs, bones, liver/spleen, stomach, thyroid, lymph system, kidneys, bladder, brain, parathyroid gland and gall bladder.Normal values for adults and children are known.Radiation involved.

Functional imaging..: Nuclear imaging allows one to see physiologic function. The use of new nuclear fusion imaging such as pet/ct allows physicians to get the best of both worlds and see anatomy and function simultaneously. One must always remember that nuclear procedures contribute to a patient's radiation exposure but the benefits of the nuclear procedure usually outweigh the risks of the radiation.

Physiologic study: Nuclear scans involve ingestion, intravenous injection, inhalation, subcutaneous injection , instillation into bladder of isotopes, radiotracers, in order to see function of various organs of body, heart, lungs, bones, liver/spleen, stomach, thyroid, lymph system, kidneys, bladder, brain, parathyroid gland and gall bladder.Normal values for adults and children are known.Radiation involved, not anatomic.