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In hospitals or on TV, you've probably seen patients undergoing radiation therapy for cancer, and doctors ordering PET scans to diagnose patients. These are part of the medical specialty callednuclear medicine. Nuclear medicine uses radioactive substances to image the body and treat disease. It looks at both the physiology (functioning) and the anatomy of the body in establishing diagnosis and treatment.
In this article, we will explain some of the techniques and terms used in nuclear medicine. You'll learn how radiation helps doctors see deeper inside the human body than they ever could.
Imaging in Nuclear MedicineOne problem with the human body is that it is opaque, and looking inside is generally painful. In the past, exploratory surgery was one common way to look inside the body, but today doctors can use a huge array of non-invasive techniques. Some of these techniques include things like X-rays, MRI scanners, CAT scans, ultrasound and so on. Each of these techniques has advantages and disadvantages that make them useful for different conditions and different parts of the body.Nuclear medicine imaging techniques give doctors another way to look inside the human body. The techniques combine the use of computers, detectors, and radioactive substances. These techniques include:
- Positron emission tomography (PET)
- Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
- Cardiovascular imaging
- Bone scanning
All of these techniques use different properties of radioactive elements to create an image. See How Radioactivity Works for complete details.
Nuclear medicine imaging is useful for detecting:
- tumors
- aneurysms (weak spots in blood vessel walls)
- irregular or inadequate blood flow to various tissues
- blood cell disorders and inadequate functioning of organs, such as thyroid and pulmonary function deficiencies.
The use of any specific test, or combination of tests, depends upon the patient's symptoms and the disease being diagnosed.
What else can I help you with?
Advancements in nuclear science have led to new technology which have been beneficial to society Many of the advances are used in medicine what is not a medical use of nuclear energy?
One non-medical use of nuclear energy is power generation in nuclear power plants to produce electricity for homes and industries. Another example is the use of nuclear energy in research to study fundamental particles and phenomena in physics.
How do use the words nuclear energy in a sentence?
there was nuclear energy in the science experiment
What is the branch of medicine dealing with radioactive substances and radiant energy?
Nuclear medicine is the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnostic or therapeutic use of radioactive substances and radiant energy.
Types of things that use nuclear energy?
Examples of things that use nuclear energy include nuclear power plants for generating electricity, nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers for propulsion, and radioisotope thermoelectric generators for space missions. Additionally, nuclear energy is used in medicine for cancer treatment and imaging through techniques such as radiation therapy and PET scans.
What is the main use of energy?
The main use of nuclear energy is to produce electricity. Nuclear energy is also used in the field of medicine and military purposes.
How is nuclear energy used in science?
Nuclear energy is used in science in three general areas. We rely on nuclear technology in a number of areas of medicine. We also use nuclear energy to generate power. There are also research applications where nuclear physics is applied to learn and understand more about the subatomic world.
Advancements in nuclear science have led to new technology which have been beneficial to society Many of the advances are used in medicine what is not a medical use of nuclear energy?
One non-medical use of nuclear energy is power generation in nuclear power plants to produce electricity for homes and industries. Another example is the use of nuclear energy in research to study fundamental particles and phenomena in physics.
How do use the words nuclear energy in a sentence?
there was nuclear energy in the science experiment
What is the branch of medicine dealing with radioactive substances and radiant energy?
Nuclear medicine is the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnostic or therapeutic use of radioactive substances and radiant energy.
What is the main use of nuclear energy?
The main use of nuclear energy is to produce electricity. Nuclear energy is also used in the field of medicine and military purposes.
Types of things that use nuclear energy?
Examples of things that use nuclear energy include nuclear power plants for generating electricity, nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers for propulsion, and radioisotope thermoelectric generators for space missions. Additionally, nuclear energy is used in medicine for cancer treatment and imaging through techniques such as radiation therapy and PET scans.
Are there any types of nuclear medicine that doesn't use radioactive isotopes?
All nuclear medicine techniques use radioactive isotopes.
Use of nuclear energy to medicine?
Radioactive isotopes are made in reactors, and can be used both for diagnosis and treatment, especially of cancer.
What is the main use of energy?
The main use of nuclear energy is to produce electricity. Nuclear energy is also used in the field of medicine and military purposes.
What Does not use nuclear energy?
All material uses nuclear energy.
Do batteries use nuclear energy?
Batteries use chemical energy to create voltage to drive current flow. They do not use nuclear energy.
Is nuclear medicine a fusion or fision?
Nuclear medicine involves the use of radioactive materials, which typically undergo nuclear decay processes such as beta decay or gamma emission to emit radiation for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. This is a form of nuclear fission rather than fusion, as it involves the splitting of atomic nuclei to release energy.
