Nuclear Medicine Department
1. About Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty involving the application of radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. During nuclear medicine procedures, radionuclides are combined with other elements to form chemical compounds, or else combined with existing pharmaceutical compounds, to form radiopharmaceuticals. These radiopharmaceuticals, once administered to patients, can localize to specific organs or cellular receptors. This property of radiopharmaceuticals allows nuclear medicine the ability to image the extent of a disease process in the body, based on the cellular function and physiology, rather than relying on physical changes in the tissue anatomy. In some diseases, nuclear medicine studies can identify medical problems at an earlier stage than other diagnostic tests. Treatment of diseased tissue is based on metabolism or uptake or binding of a particular ligand. However, the treatment effects of radiopharmaceuticals rely on the tissue-destructive power of short-range ionizing radiation.
2. About us
Clinical nuclear services date from 1960. After fifty-five years, our center is now one of the largest Nuclear Medicine departments in China possessing 4000m2 floor space and more than 40 physicians and medical technicians. We can provide a comprehensive range of clinical services in radioisotope imaging and therapy. The dept. is equipped with a Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/CT scanner, one Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)/CT scanner, one SPECT scanner and one dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, ten inpatient beds, and one outpatient clinic room for therapy consultations. We also test the renal function with 131I-IOH, the H pylori with 13C or 14C, the bone mineral density and the hormone or tumor markers. We undertake 1,500,000 much person-time hormone or tumor markers examination patients and receive 12,000 person-time outpatients and 350 person-time inpatients every year.
3. Clinical Services
The following are some of our subspecialties:
3.1 Nuclear Medicine Imaging
3.1.1 PET/CT Hybrid System
Recent technical advances have resulted in the combination of PET scanner together with X-ray computed tomography (CT) in a single camera system. The hybrid system yields maximum information and a complete set of pictures with a single noninvasive imaging study by integrating functional information from nuclear imaging with morphologic information for CT.
Now in our dept., the advanced imaging technique is mainly used for oncology, cardiology and neurology. Current radiotracer is Fluorine-18 FDG. Up to now, we have accumulated more than 20,000 cases.
3.1.2 SPECT and SPECT/CT Systems
3.1.2.1 Bone scintigraphy for assessment of bone metastases and other skeletal abnormalities
3.1.2.2 Nuclear cardiology with myocardial perfusion imaging and radionuclide gated-ventriculography
3.1.2.3 Brain perfusion imaging for cerebrovascular insufficiency, epilepsy and brain death
3.1.2.4 Renal imaging including renography, captopril studies and renal cortical imaging
3.1.2.5 Thyroid scintigraphy for assessment of thyroid nodules and thyroid function
3.1.2.6 Parathyroid scintigraphy for localisation of parathyroid adenomas in hyperparathyroidism
3.1.2.7 Gastrointestinal studies e.g. radionuclide tagged-red blood cells scan, Meckel's scan, hepatobiliary scan, gastric emptying study and peritoneal scan
3.1.2.8 Lung studies including V/Q scan for pulmonary embolism and lung perfusion scan for lung function quantification prior to surgery
3.1.2.9 Lymphoscintigraphy for lymphoedema
3.1.2.10 Sentinel node scintigraphy and radionuclide occult lesion localisation (ROLL) for breast cancers
3.1.2.11 Labelled white-blood cells scan for infection localisation
3.2 Nuclear Medicine Therapy
3.2.1 Radioiodine therapy
Radioiodine therapy is the oral administration of radioactive iodine (iodine-131) for the treatment of thyrotoxicosis (e.g. Graves’ disease, toxic multinodular goiter or toxic adenoma) and differentiated thyroid carcinomas.
3.2.2 Bone pain palliative therapy
Bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals (e.g. Strontium-89 chloride, Samarium-153, Rhenium-188) are used for the palliation of pain from bone metastases.
3.3 Non-Imaging Nuclear Medicine Tests
3.3.1 Helicobacter pylori C-14 breath test (Urea Breath Test)
3.3.2 Tumor markers and hormone assays for assessing tumor, thyroid, fertility and metabolic functions with CLIA, TRFIA and ELIA
3.3.3 Bone mineral densitometry - for assessment of bone mass and evaluation of osteopenia and osteoporosis
3.3.4 Renal function with 131I-IOH
4. Faculty
Song Wenzhong, M.D. Director
Xie Hongjun, M.D. Vice Director
Huang Jiyuan, M.D.
Guo Jia, M.D.
Ding Zhiling, M.D.
Dai Qingjing, M.D.
Huang Jin, M.D.
Liu Hao, M.D.
Su Juan, M.D.
Tang Zhenling, M.D.
5. Contact Us
Tel: (86)028-87393382(for Therapy appointment)
(86)028-87393226(for PET/CT appointment)
(86)028-87393359(for SPECT/CT appointment)
Fax: (86)028-87394607