Custom essay on Nuclear Medicine
A major technological advancement in the medical field is evident in the form of nuclear medicines. In this branch of medicine, the basic principles of radioactivity are essential for the treatment, diagnosis, and imaging. In the imaging techniques, there is the use of radioactive material to visualize the affected area. For instance, in imaging, upon the injection into the body of an individual, the radiologist visualizes its movement to establish the presence of a defect that requires attention with immediacy.
With this potential and many other examples, it is without a doubt that nuclear medicine is one of the greatest additions to the medical field. That said, in essence, this discussion aims to explain the key concepts of this technological advancement and to cite three world examples of this type of medical therapy.
To begin with, identification of the key concepts is a critical of this technology is a worthwhile endeavor of this discussion. Of significance to this type of technology is the use of radiation to accomplish its goals. A typical example of a radiation commonly utilized is the Gamma emissions. Central to their application in the nuclear medicine is their inherent properties like the ability to transverse any solid. As such, they can see inside the human body, past the skin. Moreover, it is possible with these radiations to go through solids and cause destruction (Centers for Diseases and Control, 2016).
Another important consideration of nuclear medicine is the preparation of a patient for a procedure involving this therapeutic method. Successful to the plan of management, is the preparation of the patient. Specific procedures come with their set of instructions, and as such depending on this information, the preparation is the premise of the type of the test. However, despite the differing set of instructions, the patient must be under basic preparation like any other diagnostic test (Waterstram-Rich, & Christian, 2013). For instance, explaining the procedure to the patient and answering his/her questions is the best way of preparing the patient for this test.
Furthermore, establishing the advantages and disadvantages of the nuclear medicine is also a theme that needs to become understandable to every person with interest in the topic of nuclear medicine. Primarily, the advantage of using this type of therapy is the ability to yield more accurate and definitive results as compared to other diagnostic tests. Besides, it adds other options to the treatment plans that are even more effective than the previously instituted treatments strategy. On the negative side, they require a high cost to acquire and run them. Such a case lows the accessibility to this treatment plans. That notwithstanding, the health risks associated with the procedure also do little to reinforce their use (Waterstram-Rich, & Christian, 2013).
That said, coming up with real world examples that point to the utilization of this type of technology. A case in point is the Positron Emission Tomography, which is a diagnostic tool that has been effective in determination of how the body organs function. Its use in medicine is inevitable as it assists in to diagnose heart conditions and develop an appropriate treatment for various cancers (Centers for Diseases and Control, 2016). Clearly, this shows the importance of this therapy that use the nuclear medicine technology.
Also, the use of radiopharmaceuticals is another typical example of the nuclear medicine technology. The radiopharmaceuticals are essential especially for the treatment of the conditions such as hypothyroidism and cancers in the contemporary world (Drozdovitch, et. al, 2015). With such utilization, it is beyond doubt that this is the doing of nuclear medicine.
Lastly, hybrid scanning techniques that employ X-ray, Computed Tomography or the Magnetic Resonance Imaging are also possible thanks to nuclear medicine. The emissions from these machines are of the essence in diagnosing one’s illness and treating it (Waterstram-Rich, & Christian, 2013). Consequently, this has revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. Evidently, this is another instance showing the growing importance of nuclear medicine.
In conclusion, it is without a doubt that nuclear medicine has the potential to change the ways of diagnosing and treating. Such is the case given the effectiveness that it affords on this account. Therefore, it is high time we take it up and embrace it as one of the best in medicine.
References
Centers for Diseases and Control,. (2016). Radiation Studies: CDC – Nuclear Medicine Procedures. Cdc.gov. Retrieved 6 December 2016, from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/nuclear_medicine.htm
Drozdovitch, V., Brill, A. B., Callahan, R. J., Clanton, J. A., DePietro, A., Goldsmith, S. J., … & Ponto, J. A. (2015). Use of radiopharmaceuticals in diagnostic nuclear medicine in the United States: 1960–2010. Health physics, 108(5), 520.
Waterstram-Rich, K. M., & Christian, P. E. (2013). Nuclear medicine and PET/CT: technology and techniques.Elsevier Health Sciences.
