A nuclear medicine technologist is a medical professional who is trained to use radioactive materials to take images of organs in the human body, to diagnose illnesses, to treat disease, and to study the effects radioactive materials have on living cells.
Nuclear medicine technologists:
- Explain the procedure and tests to patients,
- Prepare and administer radioactive drugs,
- Take images,
- Process the images and accompany data,
- Analyze specimens in a laboratory, and
- Work closely with doctors.
Imaging involves administering radioactive drugs into the human body which attach themselves to human organs, bones, and tissues. This helps scintillation cameras locate the targeted area and produce images of the organs without having to perform invasive or exploratory surgery. Once the images are developed on photographic film or saved to be shown on a computer screen, doctors can analyze the patient’s condition and recommend proper treatment.
Therapeutic treatment involves administering a precise dose of radiopharmaceuticals (radioactive drugs) into the human body to kill disease. This treatment, however, is often a last resort.
To learn more about nuclear medicine technology, visit:
The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board
Society of Nuclear Medicine
Come back on Friday as we finish up our discussion on nuclear medicine technology.
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