Description
Nuclear medicine imaging involves small amounts of radioactive material (known as radiotracers) which are either inhaled, swallowed, or injected into the bloodstream in order to assess bodily functions and diagnose disease.
Once the radiotracers are introduced into the patient’s system, special cameras are used to create 3D tomographic images of the distribution of radiotracers inside the patient’s body. The tomographic images enable doctors to observe the progression of heart diseases such as blocked coronary arteries.
Related Conditions
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Cardiovascular Disease
Potential Risks
The potential health risks of nuclear imaging are low. No long-term side effects are known.