medicine

Nuclear medicine is a field specialized in radiology, and it is one of the technologies that has made a clear difference in the field of diagnosis and treatment, and it is based on the use of very small and safe amounts of radioactive drugs. To examine the functions of organs, evaluate their condition, and treat some health problems, such as some tumors.

Diagnostic nuclear medicine

1. How is nuclear medicine helpful in diagnosis?

The principle of nuclear medicine in diagnosis is based on giving the person concerned the radioactive material most often by injection, then the specialist tracks this material using a technique known as positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to monitor the amount and how cells absorb it or How members interact with it.

This gives a strong impression of how the organ performs its function, thus facilitating the diagnosis of many diseases or knowledge of their functions, especially problems of the heart and kidneys, in addition to determining the level of activity of tumors or the extent of their spread and the rate of their response to treatment.

2. Types of nuclear medicine images

Among the types of tests that are used for diagnostic purposes using nuclear medicine are the following:

Imaging (FDG-PET Scan)

This type of technology is used to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy cells, in order to accurately diagnose cancer, in addition to being able to know the stage of the disease and monitor the tumor''s response to treatment.

Computed tomography or MRI scans are usually used in conjunction with an FDG-PET scan, as this allows simultaneous anatomical and behavioral images to be captured.

Myocardial perfusion imaging

The nuclear image can assess the health of the heart and the efficiency of this muscle, as well as the degree of damage to the heart after strokes.

Imaging of the kidneys

It gives an illustrative picture of the kidneys and reveals any defect in them. including ureteral stenosis.

Thyroid imaging

Nuclear imaging can assess the health of the thyroid gland, detect any nodules or masses in it, or even determine the cause of its increased activity.

Prostate specific antigen test (PSMA PET)

This test greatly helped locate prostate cancerous cells and thus facilitated their treatment and dealing with them. The good thing is that this test is able to detect prostate cancer in stages that many other tests could not detect.

Imaging (DOTATOC PET)

This imaging is useful for detecting neuroendocrine tumors (neurohormonal tumors) So that the radioactive material is given by injection intravenously, and this examination often needs 20-25 minutes.

Nuclear medicine treatment

As for treatment The principle of nuclear medicine is based on injecting a radioactive drug into the body to bind to target cells, destroying them or stopping their growth. This treatment is an excellent option in some cases of thyroid tumors, prostate cancer, neurohormonal tumors, and others. Nuclear therapy may be the best option in some cases of cancer that have not responded to any other treatment.

1. How are tumors treated with nuclear medicine?

A drug (prepared from radioactive compounds) is used and given by injection or mouth. This drug is characterized by its ability to bind to cancer cells more than healthy cells and stick to them, and once attached to them, the rays emitted from inside the cell work to kill them.

However, an amount of the drug may remain that is not attached to any cancer cells to remain floating in the blood, and this amount can be eliminated from the body over time, mostly through urine. Nuclear medicine treatment often has to be repeated several times to get good results.

To get the best results from nuclear medicine, it can be used in combination with other treatment options, such as chemotherapy or surgery. Nuclear medicine may be used with or after these treatments.

2. What are the benefits and advantages of Nuclear Medicine Oncology?

Among the advantages of nuclear medicine treatment are the following

This treatment targets cancer cells, so it won''t cause significant damage to healthy, non-cancerous cells.

It can treat some tumors and cancers that have not responded to other treatments.

It''s a simple, non-threatening option.

Controls symptoms in many patients.

It shrinks tumors and stops their growth for years sometimes.

3. Examples of nuclear medicine in oncology

Among the uses of nuclear medicine in the treatment of tumors, which are provided by Al-Mousa Hospital, are the following:

Thyroid cancer

This treatment is used in cases of thyroid cancer. Where the doctor removes the affected part of the thyroid through surgery, then the patient is given radioactive iodine I-131 to destroy any cancer cells that remain after surgery.

The good thing about this type of treatment is that it does not affect the healthy cells of the body and therefore does not cause serious side effects, and it may also help to get rid of thyroid cancer cells that have spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Metastatic bone tumor

An example of the uses of nuclear medicine is the drug Lexidronam samarium 153, which is a radioactive drug used to treat some diseases, and is most used to relieve pain in people whose tumors have reached the bones. Like some cases of breast cancer that has spread to the bones.