Nuclear Medicine
Diagnostic Expertise With Molecular Imaging
Our nuclear radiology subspecialists offer extensive modern services in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging including general nuclear medicine, SPECT/CT, cardiac nuclear imaging and PET/CT. Our expert teaching faculty in nuclear medicine at Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University are training the next generations of radiologists and other physicians. We collaborate with many other specialists including interventional radiology, radiation oncology, multiple surgical fields, neurology/psychiatry, endocrinology and oncology.
Clinical Trails
We also enjoy participating in cutting-edge clinical trials which can offer our patients the newest molecular imaging radiopharmaceuticals that are not yet available outside the clinical trials. Recent examples include the ACR IDEAS study, which offered amyloid brain PET imaging assessing possible Alzheimer’s disease, and a phase 3 clinical trial evaluating prostate cancer using 18F-PSMA PET/CT.
What Is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear medicine is a type of imaging that scans the body at a molecular level, using a small amount of radioactive substance to take diagnostic images used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including cancer. When combined with a CT scan or MRI, nuclear medicine is called image fusion or co-registration. This enables our nuclear radiologists to see and examine two different types of images with just one scan.
How Is It Used?
Nuclear medicine can play a role in the diagnosing and treatment of conditions in the the heart, lungs, brain, bones or other parts of the body, including the thyroid, stomach, bowels and more. It is also used in cancer diagnosing to help stage the cancer, plan treatment, see how it is responding to treatment and to determine if it has spread.
How Does It Work?
During the procedure, MCR’s nuclear radiologists administer a small, safe amount of radioactive material. Typically, we will inject it into the vein, but it can also be swallowed or inhaled via gas. This material, called radiotracer, will form gamma rays in the affected area, and our nuclear radiologist can see these rays with special cameras. Diseases that begin with very small molecular changes, such as cancer, will be absorbed by the radiotracer and therefore “show up” on your scan.
Common Radiotracers
There are many different types of radiotracers, but the most common one is F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Other types include iodine-131 and 68Ga-DOTATATE. The type of radiotracer our team will use depends on the area of the body and the reason for your scan. FDG is made of a material similar to sugar, which is then absorbed by the cancer cells. The energy that FDG gives off can then be detected by our radiologists via imaging, allowing us to see information about the cancer.
What Are Some Common Uses Of Nuclear Medicine?
Our team uses these images to help diagnose, monitor and treat:
Nuclear Medicine With PET/CT Scan
Positron emission tomography/computed tomography, also called a PET/CT scan, is an advanced imaging tool that combines the functional imaging of PET with the anatomical information from CT. It is an effective way to show differences between healthy and diseased tissue.
There are multiple different types of PET/CT scans available. Our radiologists are well trained and experienced in interpreting:
Download Patient Handouts
Interested in learning more about nuclear medicine? We understand the importance of taking an active role in your own care, and we are dedicated to patient education. We can help answer any questions you have about your upcoming procedure. Get started by clicking on and downloading the patient forms below, which are available in both English and Spanish, for your convenience.
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