Nuclear Medicine Enhances Diagnosis and Treatment

Nuclear medicine at Central DuPage Hospital is used to diagnose a broad range of conditions related to the head, body and bones. Nuclear medicine techniques also may be part of a treatment plan for certain cancers and vascular diseases.

What is Nuclear Medicine?

Nuclear medicine is an umbrella term for a variety of procedures that use tiny amounts of radioactive substances to create images of internal organs and tissues. The radioactive substances either decay or are excreted within a few days. Nuclear medicine also can be used as a method for treatment. For example, nuclear medicine may be employed to help destroy certain types of cancerous tumors. Nuclear medicine techniques rely on highly sophisticated technology. The following descriptions provide a brief overview.  Examples of diagnostic nuclear medicine include PET/CT scans, SPECT imaging, and bone scans.

Isotope therapy is a form of nuclear medicine treament where radioactive isotopes (radioisotopes) are injected or ingested into the body. These isotopes naturally gravitate to certain organs. For example, radioactive iodine is drawn to the thyroid gland. Radioisotope therapy may be combined with radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells.

Our Services

Our nuclear medicine services provide a full range of imaging for the brain, organs and joints. These procedures include:

• SPECT imaging
• Isotope therapy
• PET/CT scans
• Bone scanning
• Nuclear medicine procedures for children, as needed

As a diagnostic tool, nuclear medicine may be used to detect cancerous tumors in the organs and bones, aneurysms, blood flow irregularities and blockage in arteries, and malfunctioning of certain organs such as the thyroid. Nuclear medicine also provides images of certain biochemical functions, including brain activity. As a treatment tool, radioactive substances are sometimes effective in destroying certain types of cancerous tissues.

Our Staff

Nuclear medicine uses advanced technologies that require specialized expertise. Our professional team includes:

• Board-certified radiologists (MDs)
• Licensed nuclear medicine technologists

Location and Hours

Central DuPage Hospital
25 N. Winfield Road
Winfield, IL 60190

Outpatient procedures are scheduled Monday through Friday. These procedures also are performed for hospitalized patients (inpatients) and for emergency cases.

Call for an Appointment

Please call (630) 933-5000 to schedule a nuclear medicine procedure at Central DuPage Hospital. A physician order is required.