The use of machinery containing radioisotopes such as, MRI, CT, PET, X-RAY, and etc. aids in the process of diagnosis. The information doctors are able to access about a person’s functioning organs truly has changed the game of medicine.
Radiology, the process of working and viewing inside the human body without breaking the skin. By using radiant energy, which may take the form of x rays or other types of radiation, we are able to diagnose and treat many diseases and injuries. Both diagnostic and therapeutic radiology involve
Medicine has developed into an astonishing work of pure art over the years. From an old village healer crushing the simplest herbs in ancient times, to large machines administering chemical formulas to patients today. The newest addition to this artwork is Nuclear Medicine. Nuclear Medicine is a medicine that deals with the use of radioactive substances entering the body to attach/ attack cells. Whether it be to diagnose, test, or to treat, this nuclear technology has driven the medical and chemistry world into the future.
The use of radioactive elements in medicine is still growing to this day. Many oncologists use it to treat their patients who have cancer. Many cancer patients use this option. They use the radiation to kill off cancer cells. X-ray technicians or radiologists will also use it to administer x-rays to people who may have a broken bone, or need an MRI. The patient is injected with a radioactive material that helps the doctor be able to see inside the body better, whether it be with pictures or ultrasound. Radioactive material is defined as “material that contains radioactivity and thus emits ionizing radiation. It may be material that contains natural radioactivity from the environment or a material that may have been made radioactive.” (The Healthy Physics Society). This happens when someone needs a colonoscopy. They have to drink or are injected with this liquid that helps their organs and all other masses in the body be seen better by the radioactive materials.
In nuclear medicine diagnosing techniques, a very small amount of radioactive material is introduced into the body. Because medical isotopes are attracted to specific organs, bones or tissues, the emissions they produce can provide crucial information about a particular type of cancer or disease. Information gathered during a nuclear medicine technique is more comprehensive than other imaging procedures because it describes organ function, not just structure. The result is that many diseases and cancers can be diagnosed much earlier.
Nuclear energy is used today for energy supply and about 15% of the world’s energy comes from nuclear power plants some forms of medicine such as nuclear medicine rely
Positron Emission Tomography is a scanning technique that allows us to measure in detail the functioning of distinct areas of the human brain while the patient is comfortable, conscious and alert. PET represents a type of functional imaging, unlike X-rays or CT scans, which show only structural details within the brain. The differences between these types of imaging don’t end there.
(3) In 1950, David Kuhl and Roy Edwards introduced the concept of emission and transmission tomography. Their work led to the design and construction of tomographic machines that were further developed by Michael E. Phelps and Michel Ter-Pogossian, to name of few involved in the first PET scan manufacture and use. (3) “ They found
Nuclear medicine technology has advantages and disadvantages just as any other career. Using nuclear medicine technology could diagnose a lot of harmful diseases. Also, it is more effective treatment for most categories of cancerous diseases and conditions in some medical institutions. This type of medicine technology helps physicians perform their responsibility of patients’ therapy easily; moreover, when a serious disease developed in the patient’s body, the x-rays of this medicine technology could scan the most sensitive part of the patient’s body.
People also benefit from atomic research in the medical field. Many people are aware of the wide use of radiation and radioisotopes in medicine. Nuclear medicine mostly uses radioisotopes which emit gamma rays from within the body. Estimates show that about one out of every three hospital patients benefits in some way from the use of nuclear medicine. Just think, every time you have an X-ray taken you are benefiting from nuclear research. Without X-rays, doctors would have a far greater time trying to set a broken bone if they even knew it was broken! Another common medical procedure that involves atomic research is the Cat-Scan. During this procedure the patient is injected with a radioactive isotope which shows the flow of blood through the
Medical or Diagnostic Imaging refers to the various techniques that can be used to see inside the human body. Its non-invasive nature means that the body does not have to be opened up surgically for medical practitioners to view the organs anatomically. In clinical settings, it can be used to aid in the diagnosis or treatment of different ailments. Many kinds of medical imaging techniques have already been developed, each with their own advantages
Thesis: The uses of nuclear energy range from being a clean, renewable energy source to cutting edge medical procedures.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or commonly known as MRI, is a technique used in medicine for producing images of tissues inside the body. It is an important diagnostic tool because it enables physicians to identify abnormal tissue without opening the body through surgery. MRI lets physicians see through bones and organs. MRI does not expose the patient to radiation, unlike tests that use X-rays. MRI provides an unparallel view inside the human body. It is the method of choice for the
For this assignment I was fortunate enough to interview my uncle who’s a nuclear medicine Technologist BSN. He graduated in 2008. He has working in the hospital for over 6 years now and over the years he has gain an insurmountable amount of experience. Along with that came increase of pay. While interviewed him he elaborated on how they use medical imaging as radioactive isotopes, which relies on the process of radioactive decay to treat a diagnosis of disease, a patient might be having. He seems very excited and enthusiastic working in this field while dealing with patients and also treating their source of illness. He tells me each time that his main goal in life was to be able to provide sustainable, substantial and affordable care
Nuclear Medicine Technologists examine the heart, lungs, bones, brain, and other systems as well. They use energy in the form of gamma rays that are detected by a camera and computer to basically tell the tech what exactly is going on in a patient's body. These images cannot be acquired using other imaging methods. Nuclear Medicine detects many abnormalities in a patient's body, for example: heart diseases, gastrointestinal, cancers, neurological disorders, and many others. To become a technologist in this field require associates or bachelors degree and a license and certification. The average salary for them would be around $71,120