The healthcare professionals at ImageCare Radiology perform nuclear medicine in Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Undergoing any medical imaging test can feel overwhelming. Let us set your mind at ease by consistently providing a caring and compassionate environment. We strive for swiftness and accuracy in all of our medical imaging. This is why we make it so your referring physician can view your nuclear medicine images and reports in real-time. We also accept most insurance plans. Contact us to learn more about this test or to schedule your appointment.
What is A Nuclear Medicine Test?
Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses radioactive substances to diagnose and treat various diseases and health conditions. This medical specialty provides unique insights into how organs, tissues, and other systems within the body function. Nuclear medicine is particularly useful in diagnosing and staging certain diseases, such as cancer, as well as heart, neurological, and thyroid disorders.
Nuclear medicine imaging has two purposes:
- Diagnosis: This approach allows your healthcare provider to see how the organs or tissue inside of your body are functioning. It aims to find a disease in its earliest stage to determine an effective treatment plan
- Treatment: Nuclear medicine therapy can target specific tissues or tumors to deliver localized radiation therapy. It has the ability to target and destroy organs or tissues that are damaged or diseased while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
How Does a Nuclear Medicine Test Work?
There are three basic steps involved in this test:
- During this process, a small amount of radioactive material enters the body via injection, ingestion, or inhalation. The specific radioactive substance will depend on what is being tested for and what organ or tissue is targeted.
- You may be required to lie on a table or walk on a treadmill while the radioactive material is distributed throughout your body.
- Specialized cameras are used to detect the distribution of radioactive materials.This data is processed to create detailed images that your healthcare professional will analyze.
Nuclear medicine is carefully regulated to ensure your safety, whether for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. ImageCare Radiology always follows the appropriate safety guidelines so that you feel comfortable and confident throughout the procedure. Contact us to request your appointment.