Dr Dineo Mpanya, a nuclear medicine specialist at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital who specialises in medical imaging, explained that this medical specialty makes it possible to diagnose illnesses that may not be picked up by normal X-ray or CT scans.
By providing unique information about the human body and its function, nuclear medicine helps doctors diagnose diseases earlier to make treatment more effective. Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radioactive substances to image the body and treat disease. Patients consume or are injected with a radiopharmaceutical (tracer) which emits gamma radiation. The tracer enters the organ being examined and gives off energy in the form of gamma rays which are detected by a gamma camera. The gamma camera then sends a signal to a computer, eventually creating images and videos showing how an organ functions.
Dr Mpanya said with this type of imaging technique, they can see and determine the extent of disease in the heart, lungs, kidneys, bones or any organ in the body, with the exception of the reproductive organs.
“We are able to help diagnose and evaluate medical conditions,” she explained.
“For instance, if someone complains of chest pains and the treating doctor is concerned that there might be a blood clot in one of the blood vessels in the heart and lungs, that person will be referred to us for a lung (ventilation-perfusion) scan or a heart scan, which assesses blood flow in the vessels surrounding the heart.
How nuclear scans work
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Public Sector Manager.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Public Sector Manager.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Lefentse Phokwane Reaching New Heights At SAA
Growing up on the streets of Vosloorus in Ekurhuleni, Lefentse Phokwane aspired to become a chemical engineer, but ended up studying for a Diploma in Non-Destructive Testing Inspection at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) instead.
Looking To The Skies For Solutions
A young South African is exploring the secrets of the universe and believes studying the cosmos can teach us many things that we can apply in improving our daily lives.
From Flight Attendant To CEO
Zuks Ramasia is the perfect example of what people can achieve when they believe in themselves and pursue their ambitions.
Qualification Frauds Could Find Themselves Behind Bars
Lying about your qualifications could now lead to jail time, according to the new National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Amendment Act which aims to prevent the misrepresentation of qualifications and fraud.
City Shelter Assist Displaced Foreign Nationals
Displaced foreign nationals are being accommodated at the DH Williams Community Hall in Gauteng.
Women Must Take Their Rightful Place In Society
This Women’s Month, South Africa has much to be proud of.
G20 Summit Tackles Key Issues
The recent G20 Summit allowed for critical engagement on efforts to address major global economic challenges
Stand Up For
women’s rights in South Africa
Mpumalanga – A Rising Sun Guided By A Visionary Woman
For many South Africans, the province of Mpumalanga (which translates to “place of the rising sun”) flies under the radar.
Giving Women, Youth And People With Disabilities Their Dignity
The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite NkoanaMashabane, wants the advancement of women to continue to be a priority in government’s service delivery programmes.
