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Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that uses safe, painless, and cost-effective techniques both to image the body and also to treat disease. Most organ systems can be imaged and targeted by nuclear medicine techniques and we have a choice of nearly 100 procedures, which are used by many Departments - from Children's Services to Cardiology to Oncology.

Where is Nuclear Medicine at Addenbrooke's?

At Addenbrooke’s, Nuclear Medicine is a division of the Radiology Directorate. It is housed in a self-contained building on two floors. The main patient area is on Level 3, between Outpatients and the main Hospital.

An example of a whole-body
bone scan, a nuclear medicine
technique used to look for
areas of increased bone
metabolism

Nuclear medicine for imaging:

Nuclear medicine imaging techniques document both organ function and structure. NB diagnostic radiology (eg X-rays) is predominantly based upon structure.

We can gather medical information that might otherwise require more expensive diagnostic tests, surgical intervention or might not be available by any other means.

Nuclear medicine imaging procedures often identify abnormalities (problems) very early in the progression of a disease - often long before some medical problems are apparent using other diagnostic tests.

For treatment of disease:

Nuclear medicine is an integral part of patient care. In addition to diagnosis, it is used in the management, treatment, and prevention of serious disease. Because diseases can often be detected early, they can also often be treated early when there might be a more favourable prognosis.

What are radiopharmaceuticals?

Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive materials that are used in very small amounts in each patient to either diagnose or treat disease. They are attracted to ('lodge in') specific organs, bones, or tissues.

What are gamma cameras?

The radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine emit ('give off') gamma rays, which are a high-energy type of radiation. Gamma rays can be detected by two types of specialised cameras: gamma and positron emission tomography (PET) cameras, which, in conjunction with powerful computers, can form images and display information about the area of body in question.

One of the Department's
gamma cameras

How much radiation is involved?

The amount of radiation from a nuclear medicine procedure is comparable to that received during a diagnostic X-ray. Patients will receive a full explanation of what is involved before any procedures.

What facilities are available?

We have a range of modern equipment, including four gamma cameras (one with coincidence-PET capability), automatic gamma and beta counters, and a whole-body monitor.

Services:

The Department aims to provide a comprehensive nuclear-medicine service for patients from the Cambridge area, and from other districts and regions. The main functions include:

• Diagnostic investigations;
• Radionuclide scintigraphy (imaging);
• Radionuclide sample counting;
• Whole-body counting;
• Other probe counting;
• Therapy with unsealed radioactive materials;

The therapeutic service is provided in conjunction with the Oncology Department.

Radiopharmaceutical production:

Radiopharmaceuticals are manufactured for:

The Nuclear Medicine Department;

For other departments in the Trust;

The Clinical School and associated institutions (for research);

To other hospitals (including veterinary hospitals) and organisations in East Anglia.

Medical research and development:

Research and development are carried out under the direction of the Lead Consultant, by staff within the Department, and in collaboration with other investigators who have a need to use nuclear medicine techniques.

Radiation protection:

Advice is available for staff and patients on all aspects of radiation protection involving unsealed radioactive materials. A whole-body monitoring service is provided.

Training and education:

The Department is involved in the training and education of medical, technical, nursing and scientific staff in the practice of nuclear medicine and radiopharmacy.

Key Contacts:

Nuclear medicine is a multidisciplinary activity, and the Department employs medical, nursing, technical, scientific and clerical staff.

Office Manager: Elizabeth Hyslop; Departmental reception Tel: 01223 217 145; Departmental Fax: 01223 274 596; E-mail: elizabeth.hyslop@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

Divisional Head of Nuclear Medicine: Helen Rose E-mail: helen.rose@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

Lead Consultant: Dr K Balan; E-mail: kottekkattu.balan@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

Consultant Physicist: David Parry-Jones; E-mail: david.parry-jones@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

Chief Technologist: Helen Rose; E-mail: helen.rose@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

Consultant Radiopharmaceutical Scientist: Position currently vacant

Sister: Heather Scicluna; E-mail: heather.scicluna@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

Also on this website:

Radiology Directorate

Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering including Radiation Protection

On other websites:

British Nuclear Medicine Society website: www.bnms.org.uk

(US) Society of Nuclear Medicine - a very comprehensive website: www.snm.org

Institute of Physics in Engineering and Medicine: www.ipem.org.uk - useful for information about careers and training in the NHS as clinical scientists or clinical technologists.