The Top Doctors Specializing in NUCLEAR MEDICINE in CA
Updated as of March 07, 2024
Nuclear medicine is a specialized area of radiology that uses very small amounts of radioactive materials, or radiopharmaceuticals, to examine organ function and structure. Nuclear medicine imaging is a combination of many different disciplines. These include chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer technology, and medicine. This branch of radiology is often used to help diagnose and treat abnormalities very early in the progression of a disease, such as thyroid cancer.Because X-rays pass through soft tissue, such as intestines, muscles, and blood vessels, these tissues are difficult to visualize on a standard X-ray, unless a contrast agent is used. This allows the tissue to be seen more clearly. Nuclear imaging enables visualization of organ and tissue structure as well as function. The extent to which a radiopharmaceutical is absorbed, or taken up, by a particular organ or tissue may indicate the level of function of the organ or tissue being studied. Thus, diagnostic X-rays are used primarily to study anatomy. Nuclear imaging is used to study organ and tissue function. A tiny amount of a radioactive substance is used during the procedure to assist in the exam. The radioactive substance, called a radionuclide (radiopharmaceutical or radioactive tracer), is absorbed by body tissue. Several different types of radionuclides are available. These include forms of the elements technetium, thallium, gallium, iodine, and xenon. The type of radionuclide used will depend on the type of study and the body part being studied. After the radionuclide has been given and has collected in the body tissue under study, radiation will be given off. This radiation is detected by a radiation detector. The most common type of detector is the gamma camera. Digital signals are produced and stored by a computer when the gamma camera detects the radiation. By measuring the behavior of the radionuclide in the body during a nuclear scan, the healthcare provider can assess and diagnose various conditions, such as tumors, infections, hematomas, organ enlargement, or cysts. A nuclear scan may also be used to assess organ function and blood circulation. Scans are used to diagnose many medical conditions and diseases. Some of the more common tests include the following: Renal scans, Thyroid scans, Bone scans, Gallium scans, Heart scans Brain scans, and Breast scans.
Name | Address |
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JOEL ERICKSON |
165 ROWLAND WAY , 212 LASER LIGHT TREATMENT CENTER NOVATO, CA 94945 Map |
SUNIL UPENDER |
WASHINGTON RADIOLOGISTS MEDICAL GROUP INC 2000 MOWRY AVE FREMONT, CA 94538 Map |
SINDU ALEXANDER |
UC REGENTS 101 THE CITY DR S ORANGE, CA 92868 Map |
RONALD KINGSTON |
CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CARE FOUNDATION 6801 PARK TER , SUITE 400 LOS ANGELES, CA 90045 Map |
JEFFREY TSENG |
COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA 751 S BASCOM AVE SAN JOSE, CA 95128 Map |
NIKUNJ PATEL |
SCRIPPS HEALTH 10666 N TORREY PINES RD , SCRIPPS TORREY PINES LA JOLLA, CA 92037 Map |
RICHARD COLE |
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PERMANENTE MEDICAL GROUP 4647 ZION AVE SAN DIEGO, CA 92120 Map |
HUNG TSANG |
PERMANENTE MEDICAL GROUP INC 1200 EL CAMINO REAL SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94080 Map |
ULRIKE HAYWARD |
I. GROSSMAN M.D., INC. 2705 LOMA VISTA RD , SUITE 100 VENTURA, CA 93003 Map |
CRAIG MORITZ |
USC CARE MEDICAL GROUP INC 1520 SAN PABLO ST 1ST FLOOR N LOS ANGELES, CA 90033 Map |