ydinlääketieteelliset

ydinlääketieteelliset is a Finnish term that translates to "nuclear medicine" in English. It is a specialized field of medicine that uses radioactive substances to diagnose and treat diseases. Nuclear medicine procedures involve administering a small amount of a radioactive material, called a radiopharmaceutical, to a patient. This radiopharmaceutical can be injected, swallowed, or inhaled. Once in the body, the radiopharmaceutical accumulates in specific organs or tissues, or it may be used to measure bodily functions.

The distribution and concentration of the radiopharmaceutical are then detected by special cameras, such as PET (positron emission tomography) or SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) scanners. These scanners create images that show how the radiopharmaceutical is distributed within the body. Doctors use these images to assess organ function, detect abnormalities, and diagnose a wide range of conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders.

In addition to diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine is also employed in therapy. Certain radiopharmaceuticals can be used to target and destroy diseased cells, particularly in cancer treatment. For example, radioactive iodine is used to treat thyroid cancer. The goal of nuclear medicine is to provide highly specific information about a patient's health that may not be obtainable through other imaging techniques. The field combines principles of physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine to offer unique diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities.