Understanding Nuclear Medicine Scans: Why Radioactive Food is Used

Some patients are given radioactive food as part of a diagnostic procedure called a nuclear medicine scan.

In nuclear medicine scans, a patient is given a small amount of radioactive material, either by mouth or through a vein. The material travels through the body and collects in the organ or tissue being studied. Specialized cameras then detect the radiation emitted from the radioactive material, and this information is used to create images of the organ or tissue.

Nuclear medicine scans are often used to diagnose a variety of conditions, such as:

- Heart disease

- Kidney disease

- Thyroid problems

- Bone disorders

- Cancer

Radioactive food is also sometimes used in combination with radiation therapy. In radiation therapy, high doses of radiation are used to kill cancer cells. Radioactive food can be used to deliver radiation directly to the cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.