The Nuclear Medicine Department performs a variety of specific tests to diagnose conditions, which involve the use of a low-dose radioactive substance, which either lose their radioactivity in a short time or are excreted.
Nuclear medicine often identifies disease very early in its progression as it provides information about organ function and structure.
The Nuclear Medicine Department has 3 new Siemens Nuclear Medicine Cameras, one with PET (Positron-Emission Tomography) scan capabilities. This new PET scan is the only one of its kind in New Hampshire. It is specifically utilized as a non-invasive tool to assess organ metabolism and blood flow. It is most frequently associated with cancer detection as well as studying cardiac and cerebral function, assessing biochemical and physiologic data not capable with MRI or CAT scans. Metabolism in the heart and brain, as well as other tissues, is a very important focus of PET testing. It is used to identify areas of ischemia, infarct, staging of disease, effectiveness of medications, particularly chemotherapy, by observing functional changes in targeted tissues and organs. These new cameras allow whole body bone scans in 20 minutes, more generally this means less time under a camera with better images. The new cameras are only one component of our new equipment. The computers that operate the cameras have more flexibility in processing as well as image distribution. In the near future we hope to e-mail images, allowing physicians instant access and assessment.