Nuclear Medicine

About Us

Nuclear Medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive isotope to diagnose or treat a variety of diseases, including many types of cancers, heart disease and certain other abnormalities within the body.

Nuclear Medicine or radionuclide imaging procedures are non-invasive and, with the exception of intravenous injections, are usually painless medical tests that help physicians diagnose medical conditions. These imaging scans use radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals or radiotracers.

Depending on the type of nuclear medicine exam you are undergoing, the radiotracer is either injected into a vein, swallowed or inhaled as a gas and eventually accumulates in the organ or area of your body being examined, where it gives off energy in the form of gamma rays. This energy is detected by a device called a gamma camera, a Positron Emission Tomography scanner and/or probe. These devices work together with a computer to measure the amount of radiotracer absorbed by your body and to produce special pictures offering details on both the structure and function of organs and tissues.

Nuclear Medicine also offers therapeutic procedures such as radioactive iodine (I-131) therapy that uses radioactive material to treat cancer and other medical conditions affecting the thyroid gland.

Bone Densitometry Bone density scanning, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or bone densitometry, is an enhanced form of x-ray technology that is used to measure bone loss. DXA is today's established standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD). The DXA scan is typically used to diagnose and follow osteoporosis, as contrasted to the nuclear bone scan, which is sensitive to certain metabolic diseases of bones in which bones are attempting to heal from infections, fractures, or tumors.

DEXA or Bone Densitometry scans are done by appointment only.

Emergent cases require coordination between the ordering physician and the clinic during business hours and coordination with the radiologist on duty for after-hours exams.

Madigan Department of Radiology Services 

• General Radiology
• Computerized Tomography Scan
• Interventional Radiology
• Mammography
• MRI
• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiology
• Radiation Oncology
• Ultrasound

Directions

Nuclear Medicine (Room No. G-33-26) is located on the ground floor of the Hospital Tower of Madigan Army Medical Center in the west corridor, directly underneath or below the Emergency Room. 

Driving directions: Take I-5 Exit 122 and turning onto Beaumont Avenue into the Medical Mall Purple Parking Lot.