|
Nuclear medicine investigations use minute amounts of FDA approved sterile radioactive materials for imaging. These investigations are safe, can be used in all age groups even extremes of age and are painless. Small amounts of radiopharmaceuticals are introduced into the body by injection, swallowing, or inhalation. These radiopharmaceuticals are substances, which are organ specific and get bound within a period of time to the organ and facilitate imaging. The amount of radiopharmaceutical used is carefully selected to provide the least amount of radiation exposure to the patient but ensure an accurate test. A special camera (PET, SPECT gamma camera) is then used to take pictures of your body. The camera detects the radiopharmaceutical in the organ, bone or tissue and forms images that provide data and information about the area in question. Nuclear medicine differs from an x-ray, ultrasound or other diagnostic test because it determines the presence of disease based on biological changes rather than changes in anatomy. Hence it helps in early detection of a disease much before other anatomical imaging modality picks up.
GAMMA CAMERA APPLICATIONS:
|
|
SAFETY
Because such a small amount of radiopharmaceutical is used, the amount of radiation received from a nuclear medicine procedure is comparable to, or often times less than, that of a diagnostic x-ray. The nuclear medicine team will carefully perform the most appropriate examination for the patient's particular medical problem and thereby avoid any unnecessary radiation exposure. Adequate hydration is always encouraged to reduce the whole body radiation exposure by facilitating faster urinary clearance.
Introducing PET/CT Scan at Amrita Institute
Dept. of Nuclear medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi is now offering state-of-the-art diagnostic PET/CT services. A state of the art PET 8 slice CT scanner has been installed in the Department of Nuclear medicine of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin, the first of its kind in the state of Kerala. It will provide the referring physicians superior diagnostic information for their patients with cancer, ischemic heart disease and certain neurologic conditions. In the three decades since its development, PET has been demonstrated to be a clinically proven and safe method for imaging a variety of disorders. In recent years, the advantages of PET have been augmented by the addition of CT in the same gantry. |
