Nuclear Medicine
Seeing how your body works, not just how it looks
At a glance
- FocusOrgan function at the molecular level
- Common studiesBone, renal, gastric emptying, HIDA, thyroid
- TracerTiny, safe amounts of radioactive material
- PrepVaries by study — see panel
Nuclear medicine is a radiological subspecialty that uses small amounts of radioactive material — radiotracers — to diagnose and, in some cases, treat disease. Unlike imaging that shows structure, nuclear medicine reveals function: how your heart, kidneys, thyroid, bones and other systems are actually working over time.
Why your physician may order it
Nuclear medicine studies evaluate heart and kidney function, detect blockages in the gallbladder, find fractures and infections invisible on other exams, diagnose thyroid problems, identify internal bleeding, and help diagnose and stage cancer. Selected therapies also use controlled radiation doses to treat conditions such as thyroid disease.
Common studies at RMI
- Bone scan — detects fractures, infection and cancer spread; two brief visits 3–4 hours apart
- Renal scan — kidney function, obstruction and scarring; about 60 minutes
- Gastric emptying — measures how food leaves the stomach; a 4-hour study
- Hepatobiliary (HIDA) scan — gallbladder function and blockages
- Thyroid studies — structure and function of the thyroid gland
The tracer amount is small and carefully controlled. Most studies involve little or no preparation beyond what’s listed for your specific exam, and our team walks you through timing before you arrive.