Molecular Imaging and Therapy
Nuclear Medicine, with its advanced technologies, stands out in modern medicine through the theranostics it uses for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Radionuclide therapy is used in various conditions, including differentiated thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, castration-resistant prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, metastatic and primary liver cancers, bone metastases of many tumors, metastatic pheochromocytoma, and neuroblastomas. This therapy delivers radioactive smart drugs to tumor lesions to cure, alleviate, or control the disease. Radionuclide therapy can be applied to selected targets or the entire body and is often used as part of a treatment strategy.
For Which Diseases Is Nuclear Medicine Used for Diagnosis?
The fields where Nuclear Medicine is widely used for diagnosis include:
- Cancer: In oncology patients, nuclear medicine and molecular imaging are needed to differentiate between benign and malignant masses, stage the cancer, determine the grade and extent of the tumor within an organ, detect whole-body metastases, identify recurrences, select the appropriate treatment method, and evaluate the response to treatment. Additionally, these technologies are used in radiotherapy planning to determine the actual tumor mass and ensure that the correct location is irradiated with the correct dose.
- Heart Diseases: Nuclear medicine plays a critical role in the diagnosis and assessment of various cardiovascular diseases. Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), conducted using SPECT or PET, evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle and detects areas with reduced blood flow. These methods are widely used in diagnosing conditions such as coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction. Additionally, PET imaging can assess myocardial viability and help determine the prognosis of patients with heart failure.
- Neurological Diseases: Nuclear medicine techniques are valuable in diagnosing neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (Amyloid PET), Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. PET scans detect changes in glucose metabolism in the brain or the accumulation of a protein called amyloid. This provides critical information for early diagnosis and monitoring disease progression. Additionally, SPECT imaging can identify seizure foci in epilepsy patients and assist in guiding surgical treatment.
- Thyroid Diseases: Nuclear Medicine is widely used in the diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid diseases. Thyroid scintigraphy and radioiodine scanning tests are applied to evaluate thyroid function and detect abnormalities such as thyroid nodules, goiter, and thyroid cancer.
- Bone Diseases: Techniques like bone scintigraphy, used in nuclear medicine, are of great importance in diagnosing various bone disorders, including bone metastases, fractures, prosthesis evaluations, infections, and arthritis. Bone scintigraphy can reveal abnormalities with high sensitivity that may not be detected by conventional imaging methods.
- Kidney Diseases: Nuclear medicine techniques are also used to evaluate kidney function and diagnose kidney disorders. Imaging methods such as dynamic and static renal scintigraphy provide crucial information about kidney function, tissue loss, blood flow, and drainage. These scintigraphic techniques are effective in diagnosing conditions such as renal artery stenosis, renal artery thrombosis, and renal scarring.
What Medical Technologies Are Used in the Nuclear Medicine Department?
The tools used in the Nuclear Medicine Department to diagnose, treat, and monitor diseases include:
- PET/CT Imaging: PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (Computed Tomography) is a hybrid system that can perform both procedures within the same device. A low dose of radioactive material is used for imaging, and the gamma rays emitted by this material are detected by the PET scanner. PET images provide molecular-level information about metabolic processes in the body, while CT uses X-rays to show anatomical details through cross-sectional images. The Digital PET/CT (4 Ring) system installed in our hospital, unlike similar systems in our country, combines data from both systems with high resolution using artificial intelligence technologies. These technologies also reduce the scanning time and the radiation dose received by half. PET/CT scans play a crucial role in diagnosing, planning treatment, and monitoring various medical issues, ranging from oncology to cardiology and neurology.
- SPECT/CT Imaging: This is a hybrid technology that combines Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Computed Tomography (CT) imaging. With SPECT/CT, the distribution of a low-dose radioactive drug administered to the patient (via intravenous, oral, intradermal, etc.) is visualized in three dimensions, specific to the tissue and organ. At the same time, CT imaging provides anatomical localization.
- Radiopharmacy Laboratory (cGMP): In our laboratory, radiochemical synthesis of disease-specific smart molecules with various radioisotopes is performed for the diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases. These radiopharmaceuticals are prepared under aseptic conditions, and their chemical and microbiological quality controls are conducted in our Central Radiopharmacy Preparation Facility. Our facility is also in the process of obtaining GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification.
- Bone Densitometry (DEXA): The first choice for measuring Bone Mineral Density is the Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) method. This imaging technique allows for the early diagnosis of bone loss (osteoporosis), assessment of fracture risk, and monitoring of patients under treatment. The DEXA system we have provides exceptional precision and uses low-dose radiation. Additionally, it is one of the most modern devices available today, offering precise data on soft tissue and bone composition, including parameters such as lean and fat tissue mass and fat percentage.