Nuclear Medicine

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AllianceHealth Durant offers nuclear medicine, which is a specialized area of radiology and medical imaging in which physicians use very small amounts of radioactive substance (given either orally or intravenously) to examine an organ's structure and metabolic function, and is used to:

• Scan organs for abnormalities
• Evaluate the spread of cancer
• Locate infection
• Identify blood clots in the lungs

At AllianceHealth Durant, the nuclear medicine staff can perform non-invasive, advanced diagnostic tests that can lead to potentially life-saving treatment options or rule out serious medical conditions.

Unlike some imaging tests, nuclear imaging allows clinicians to see how a part of the body is functioning a the metabolic level, providing more definitive screening and treatment staging for diseases like caner. This improved diagnostic confidence may alter the course of action and have a positive impact on patient outcomes. For example, a patient may be able to avoid a biopsy or an invasive surgical procedure.

The nuclear medicine technologists at AllianceHealth Durant utilize advanced radiation, diagnostic and medical imaging methods that deliver results quickly so doctors can begin treatment as soon as possible. The clinical team offers a wide range of diagnostic nuclear imaging services, including:

• Brain scans
• Breast scans
• Heart scans, including myocardial perfusion scans
• Red cell mass studies to diagnose blood diseases or evaluate blood loss
• Renal scans to examine kidney function
• Thyroid uptake scans
• Tumor imaging
• Whole-body bone scans

Nuclear imaging is an important diagnostic technology for lung, breast, liver and other types of cancer. It is also extremely effective for other common applications such as cardiac, bone, pulmonary, brain, thyroid and renal imaging.