Nuclear radiology, also called nuclear medicine imaging, uses tiny amounts of radioactive tracers to show how organs function, not only how they look. The tracer is injected, swallowed or inhaled, and a special camera detects its distribution in the body.

Patients seeking diagnostic imaging in Mumbai that includes functional scans at Apex are assessed for the right test and given clear preparation instructions. Fasting is often needed for PET, and some medicines may be adjusted. The tracers decay quickly, and the radiation dose is generally comparable to other imaging tests.

Nuclear scans reveal disease activity before structural change appears, which is valuable in cancer, infection, thyroid disease, heart muscle blood flow and bone disease. Because the technology is specialised, services may be provided at selected centres, and patients may be referred when needed.

Nuclear radiology services include:

• PET and PET-CT: Imaging that shows areas of high metabolic activity, used to stage cancer, assess response to treatment and look for recurrence, combined with CT for anatomical detail.
• SPECT Imaging: Three-dimensional scans that assess heart muscle blood supply, brain function and bone abnormalities, using gamma-emitting tracers.
• Bone Scan: A whole-body scan that finds fractures, infection and spread of cancer to bone, often showing disease earlier than X-ray.
• Thyroid and Other Functional Scans: Studies that evaluate thyroid nodules, overactive thyroid disease, kidney function and other organ activity.