Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose and determine the severity of or treat a variety of diseases including many types of cancers; heart disease; gastrointestinal, endocrine and neurological disorders; and other abnormalities within the body.

Nuclear medicine imaging procedures are noninvasive and, with the exception of intravenous injections, are usually painless medical tests that help physicians diagnose and evaluate medical conditions. These imaging scans use radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals or radiotracers.

Depending on the type of nuclear medicine exam, the radiotracer is either injected into the body, swallowed, or inhaled as a gas and eventually accumulates in the organ or area of the body being examined.

Radioactive emissions from the radiotracer are detected by a special camera or imaging device that produces pictures and provides molecular information.