Nuclear medicine uses minimal amounts of radioactive materials (radiopharmaceuticals) to diagnose and treat disease. In imaging, cameras detect radiopharmaceuticals by working with computers to provide precise pictures of the imaged area of the body.
In treatment, radiopharmaceuticals directly treat the organ. The amount of radiation in a typical nuclear imaging procedure is comparable with that received during a diagnostic x-ray. The amount received in a typical treatment procedure is within safe limits.
