Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Define Nuclear Medicine Technology

Nuclear medicine technology is a medical specialty that implements the use of safe amounts of radiation for research and diagnosis of conditions, as well as treatment for certain issues.


History


The use of nuclear medicine began around the year 1935, after it was discovered that radiation had medical properties.


Conditions








Nuclear medicine lends a hand in treating diseases like leukemia, cancers and internal injuries.


Technology








Most of the time, nuclear medicine requires the use of a special camera, called a Gamma Camera, which takes pictures at varying angles of internal organs.


Other Equipment


A positron emission tomography (PET) scanner is a large device that can be compared to an MRI scanner, which uses radiation to scan the human body. Nuclear medicine also includes equipment such as X-ray machines and probes.


Pros


The benefits of nuclear medicine technology is seemingly endless, as the need for cancer treatment continuously increases.


Cons


Side effects of nuclear medicine can include hair loss, vision loss and other underlying health issues related to gamma rays and radiation.

Tags: medicine technology, nuclear medicine