Nuclear medicine is a specialized form of diagnostic imaging that helps physicians evaluate how organs and tissues are functioning. Instead of showing only structure, nuclear medicine exams provide insight into biological activity occurring inside the body, often allowing earlier detection of disease.

These studies use a small amount of radioactive material, called a tracer, which is absorbed by specific organs or tissues. A specialized camera then captures images that help physicians identify abnormalities and assess how well organs are working.

Nuclear medicine exams may be used to evaluate or monitor a variety of conditions, including cancer, thyroid conditions, bone disorders, infection, inflammation and heart function and flow.