M4 Assignment 2 Nuclear Medicine
Contemporary Applications of The Sciences
Argosy University SCI215 A02
There are many types of medicine and medical treatments to help alleviate any illness or
even prevent illnesses. Medicines ranging from prescription medicine, to complementary and
alternative medicines, to nuclear medicines. Each one is meant to help us get well in case we
every may become ill. Not all medicines are as simple as a regular prescribed medicine. For
example nuclear medicine is not any regular form of medicine. Nuclear medicine is a medical
specialty involving the application of radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of
disease and illnesses.
Nuclear medicine is a safe and painless method of medicine that permits the
determination of information that may be unavailable, that may require surgery, or a more
expensive or invasive diagnostic testing. The procedures often help identify abnormalities early
in the progression of the disease and long before the medical problem may be apparent to
diagnostic tests. Procedures of nuclear medicine allows early detection of diseases and this way
also allowing treatment early in the detection of the disease for a more successful prognosis.
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.)
Furthermore, nuclear medicine is used to treat diseases like hyperthyroidism, thyroid
cancer, lymphoma, and bone pains associate with some cancers. The procedure requires the
administration of radiopharmaceuticals that depending on the medical examination they may be
inhaled, injected, or swallowed. These radioactive chemicals may be in the form of a solid,
liquid, or gas that releases radio energy that can be detected by a camera that detect radiation.
This radiation detecting camera allows doctors to check if organs are functioning properly and
the detection of disease early in the progression of the disease. The radioactive material has a
unique half-life that stops being radioactive quickly and usually leaves the human body within
hours or months. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.)
Patients are given a small amount of a radiopharmaceutical and once the
radiopharmaceutical reaches the region of the body that is under study the patient is asked to lay
down so that the radiation detecting camera can be positioned close to the region of the body
under study and the scanning begins. Doctors can view the images on a computer monitor or a
specialist can communicate the results to your doctor. How to prepare for your nuclear medicine
exam depends of the procedure you will be undergoing and shall be consulted with your doctor.
(UCSF Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, 2015)
Moreover, nuclear medicine has its advantages and disadvantages. Some advantages of
nuclear medicine are the ability to make complex procedures simple and safe with more detailed
and accurate examines, nuclear medicine allows early detection of diseases that can mark the
difference between life and death if not treated on time. Some disadvantages associated with
nuclear medicine are some health risks run for those that are young, pregnant, or elder and can
make some health issues worse in some patients,. Another disadvantage of nuclear medicine is
the high cost to maintain, install and operate machines used for nuclear medicine this making
nuclear medicine procedures and exams also fairly expensive. (Advice America, 2016)
Some application of nuclear medicine are Gallium scans, Indium white blood cell scans,
and Octreotide Scans. Gallium Scans is one nuclear medicine application. Gallium scan test look
for swelling, infections, tumors, and some cancers in the body. This is a procedure that consist of
the injection of gallium into the vein traveling through the blood stream and collecting in the
bones and certain organs. Six to forty eight hours after the gallium is injected you are told to
return to perform a scan. You will be told to lie down while the scanning is being conducted. The
procedure may last between 30 to 60 minutes. (Pietangelo, 2005-2016)
Indium white blood cell scan is a procedure in which 50ml of blood are withdrawn from
the patient, the white blood cells are collected from this blood and are exposed to indium and
later reinjected into the patient via IV pack. Eighteen to twenty four hours later the patient is
scheduled for a scan. The patient is asked to lie on a special table where either one camera passes
underneath the table of in some cases two cameras on top and one underneath are used for the
scans. After the scanning the patient is able to continue with normal day activities. (Indium Scan
of the Body, 2003-2016)
Octreotide scans are used to detect certain cancers arising from the neuro-edocrine
systems. This procedure also consist of injecting a small amount of radioactive material into a
vein in the arm and then about 4 hour later you return for a full body scan. The camera is placed
above and below your body to detect radiation traveling from your head all the way down to
your toes. This procedure takes about 40 minutes. Next the camera three dimensional images by
taking images while rotating in circles around your body. The equipment never touches your
body. The following day the patient will have to go in to take the same images but this time no
radioactive material will be injected. After this a hospital or radiology practice will create three
dimensional images out of the pictures taken. (Triantafillou, Nandurkar, 2013-2015)
I am happy to know that technology has advanced so much to the point that doctors are
able to detect and treat diseases and illness way early in the progression of the disease. This
means the difference between life and death and may save the lives of many. Technology is there
and we should take advantage of it and use it any time it is recommended by a doctor.
Technology and nuclear medicine may have its pros and cons but it really does save lives.
References:
5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Medicine. (2016). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from http://www.adviseamerica.com/5-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-nuclear-medicine/
Indium Scan of the Body. (2003-2016). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Indium Scan of the Body
Nuclear Medicine Procedures. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/nuclear_medicine.htm
Prepare for a Nuclear Medicine Procedure. (2015). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from https://radiology.ucsf.edu/patient-care/prepare/nuclear-medicine
Pietrangelo, A. (2005-2016). All About Gallium Scans. Retrieved April 13, 2016, from http://www.healthline.com/health/gallium-scan#Overview1http://www.healthline.com/health/gallium-scan#Overview1
Triantafillou, M., & Nandurkar, D. (2013-2015). Octreotide Scan. Retrieved April 13, 2016, from http://www.insideradiology.com.au/pages/view.php?T_id=14#.Vw8DFTArLIUhttp://www.insideradiology.com.au/pages/view.php?T_id=14#.Vw8DFTArLIU