Nuclear Cardiology

Nuclear Cardiology is a branch of cardiology that deals with the study and diagnosis of heart diseases using radioactive substances (radionuclides).

The essence of the method is to intravenously inject the patient with a small amount of a radioactive isotope, which enters the heart through the bloodstream. The tags most often used are thallium-201 or technetium-99. As the radionuclide decays, it emits gamma rays, which are recorded by a special gamma camera. The image obtained with its help shows the distribution of the radioactive substance in the myocardium in different phases of the cardiac cycle.

By analyzing these images, doctors can assess myocardial perfusion (blood supply), identify ischemic areas and scar changes, determine tissue viability after a heart attack and other important characteristics.

Additional image processing using computer programs allows one to obtain a 3D tomographic reconstruction of the heart and its structures.

Thus, nuclear cardiology provides important diagnostic information about the condition of the heart muscle, its blood supply and functioning. These data are used to identify cardiovascular diseases, evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and predict risks.

Nuclear cardiology is a branch of medicine that studies and diagnoses heart disease by administering radionuclides intravenously. These radionuclides emit gamma rays, which are then detected by a gamma camera or computer, creating an image of the heart on a screen.

One of the most common methods of nuclear cardiology is gamma scanning. This method uses thallium-201 (Tl-201), which is injected intravenously and then emits gamma radiation. A gamma camera detects this radiation and creates an image of the heart on a monitor. This method allows you to identify various heart diseases, such as myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, arrhythmias and others.

Another method of nuclear cardiology is thallium scanning. This method also uses thallium, but it is administered intramuscularly rather than intravenously. This allows for a clearer image of the heart on the monitor, making this method more effective for diagnosing difficult cases.

Both nuclear cardiology methods have high accuracy and sensitivity, which makes it possible to detect even small changes in the functioning of the heart. They are also safe for patients and do not require special training or equipment.

Overall, nuclear cardiology is an important tool in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. It makes it possible to identify and treat heart disease at an early stage, which significantly improves the quality of life of patients and reduces the risk of complications.

Nuclear cardiology is one of the advanced and accurate methods for diagnosing various pathologies of the coronary arteries, myocardium and other tissues of the human body, examined using special sensors that form a raster for computed tomography. CT images are directly related to the general level of hemodynamics, the state of myocardial trophism, the diameter and degree of stenosis, regulation of peripheral blood flow, etc. There are a lot of scanning technologies - from a standard thalium-containing solution to scanning.

Clinical indications for the use of nuclear cardiology:

- Cardiodynamic assessment; - Study of cardiac perfusion circulation processes; - Diagnosis and correction of hemodynamic and metabolic abnormalities directly during cardiac procedures;

Nuclear medicine scans may be performed using imaging techniques such as a dual detection X-ray camera (CTDP) or the use of intravenous contrast. Biopsy of the stented segment of the coronary artery can also be performed using nuclear medicine imaging, especially by IOCTA (intraoperative contrast tomographic angiography). These methods include:

Thyroid scintigraphy. This includes radioactive studies of the distribution of isotopes throughout the thyroid gland. The result of this examination is a three-dimensional visualization of the accumulation and transformation of radioactive elements by the organ being examined. In this case it is possible