Radioisotope Research in Israel

Nuclear diagnostics help our doctors detect diseases at early stages, carefully monitor the course of their treatment, and in some cases, serve as a diagnostic method that cannot be replaced by any existing types of studies.

Methods of Radioisotope Studies

In certain respects, nuclear medicine can be contrasted with radiology. While in radiographic studies, the visualization of pathology occurs due to the penetration of radioactive radiation from the external environment into the patient's body, in radioisotope studies, the radiation emitted by the isotopes introduced into the body is directed from the organs and structures of the patient's body to the external environment.

During radioisotope studies, radioactive isotopes are administered to the patient intravenously or orally (by mouth). Their distribution in the body is then recorded using external detectors – gamma cameras. Nuclear diagnostic methods have found wide application in detecting bone diseases, diagnosing coronary artery stenosis, diseases of the gallbladder and parathyroid glands, oncological diseases, pulmonary embolism, and more. Radioisotope research in Israel receives positive feedback from both foreign patients and leading global specialists in nuclear diagnostics.

In Israeli clinics, three methods of radioisotope diagnostics are most widely used.

• Scintigraphy.
• Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT).
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET-CT).

Scintigraphy

In scintigraphy, radioactive isotopes contained in special preparations are introduced into the body and concentrate in specific tissues or organs. The gamma radiation emitted by the isotopes is recorded on the detector screen and provides a two-dimensional image resembling an X-ray.

There are many types of scintigraphic studies – radioisotopes help diagnose diseases of the bile ducts, respiratory system, bones, heart, glands of internal and external secretion, kidneys, and the excretory system. Scintigraphy of the bile ducts (cholescintigraphy) is used to detect their obstruction by gallstones. Lung scintigraphy is used for diagnosing embolism and during lung transplantation. Bone scintigraphy allows for the detection of fractures, while heart scintigraphy enables the assessment of its blood supply and visualizes the consequences of myocardial infarction. Scintigraphic research of the parathyroid glands allows for the detection of adenoma, while scintigraphy of the thyroid gland helps identify metastases.

Isotopes of xenon, technetium, thallium, and iodine are used as radiopharmaceuticals during scintigraphy.

SPECT

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) is a tomographic method of nuclear diagnostics that is very similar to scintigraphy but differs in its ability to provide a three-dimensional rather than a two-dimensional image of the internal structures of the body.

Before the study begins, a radiopharmaceutical (for example, thallium isotope) is injected into the patient, which can accumulate in certain tissues. By using different types of radiopharmaceuticals, selective accumulation in the structures of interest to the physician can be achieved.

The gamma radiation emitted by the radiopharmaceutical is recorded by the gamma camera, which can take a series of images from different angles, and based on these, a three-dimensional picture of the state of the internal organs is reconstructed on the computer. For full reconstruction, the gamma camera must rotate around the table on which the patient is located by 360 degrees with a projection discretization of 3-6 degrees (the typical time for creating an image in each projection is 15-20 seconds, and the entire procedure of full scanning takes about 20 minutes).

SPECT is used to clarify the results of scintigraphy or radiography, as well as in cases where three-dimensional visualization is required – for example, in the diagnosis of tumors, infectious lesions, studies of the thyroid gland, and functional studies of the brain and heart (functional radioisotope studies of the heart are used in diagnosing ischemic disease, while radioisotope studies of the brain help assess cerebral blood flow and metabolism).

The radiopharmaceuticals used in SPECT are mostly the same as those used in scintigraphy (isotopes of technetium, iodine, and other elements).

PET-CT

Positron Emission Tomography (PET-CT) is largely similar to SPECT with one fundamental difference – while in SPECT the gamma camera captures gamma radiation emitted directly from the radioisotope, in PET-CT isotopes that can emit positrons are used, and the gamma quanta generated during their annihilation are recorded by the scanner.

The principle of SPECT can be schematically expressed as follows: radioisotope – gamma radiation – fixation of gamma radiation by the scanner.

The principle of PET-CT is schematically expressed as: radioisotope – emission of positrons – collision of positrons with electrons in the tissues of the patient's body – annihilation of positrons with the emission of gamma quanta – fixation of gamma quanta by the scanner.

PET-CT is an actively developing type of diagnostics that is widely used not only in clinical practice but also in scientific research. Positron emission tomography allows for brain mapping, studying metabolic processes in the body, diagnosing atherosclerosis, bacterial infections, researching the pharmacokinetics of new drugs, etc.

PET-CT has found wide application in oncology. Rapidly growing malignant tumors actively consume glucose, so administering a drug that consists of a glucose compound and a radioisotope leads to the accumulation of the isotope in the tumor due to phosphorylation reactions. This allows for the visualization of the tumor using a PET scanner (PET-CT has become particularly widespread in diagnosing brain tumors).

Isotopes of fluorine, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen are used as radiopharmaceuticals for PET scanning. Fluorine-18 is the most commonly used.

Radiation Doses in Radioisotope Studies

Patients undergoing radioisotope examinations receive a certain dose of ionizing radiation. At the Top Ichilov clinic, only modern and safe radiopharmaceuticals and equipment from leading global manufacturers are used. Therefore, diagnostics using scintigraphy or computed tomography in our clinic is completely safe for patients.

The risk of negative consequences after undergoing a radioisotope study is as minimal as with conventional X-ray diagnostics (although the dose of radiation received by the patient is somewhat higher than with radiography). For comparison: the amount of radiation that a patient receives during a PET scan using fluorine-18 isotope corresponds to the annual dose of natural radiation received by every resident of the high-altitude American city of Denver, Colorado (12-14 millisieverts), and is several times lower than the maximum allowable annual radiation load for workers at American nuclear power plants (50 millisieverts).

Radioisotope Research in Israel – Cost

Advantages of Radioisotope Diagnostics at the Top Ichilov Clinic

• Modern equipment that allows for accurate diagnostics. Our clinic uses tomographs from leading global manufacturers that meet all international quality and safety standards.
• The radiopharmaceuticals used are free of side effects and safe. The radiation load that the patient receives from these drugs is comparable to the dose of radiation received from simple X-ray diagnostics.
• The results of the scans are reviewed by experienced specialists with extensive experience in radiodiagnostics. Their skills and knowledge guarantee that you will receive an accurate and correct diagnosis and an effective treatment program.
• Affordable prices – one-third lower than European and half less than American.
• The comfort of our patients is one of the important tasks facing the clinic's team. Well-equipped rooms, polite and responsive medical staff, and a personal curator-translator will create a cozy atmosphere and set you in a positive mood.