“Is nuclear medicine an essential service?”

Nuclear medicine is some form has been around since about 1950. Many studies initially performed by nuclear medicine techniques have been replaced by modern technologies. When it comes to molecular imaging and diagnosis the presence of tumors or metastatic disease, nuclear medicine has an edge an is therefore considered essential. Lung perfusion imaging to look for pulmonary embolism is still a vital service performed by NM. The future of NM will likely involve radionuclide therapy of cancer and endocrine disorders. Our service is extremely busy with 13 nuclear medicine physicians. We would like to think of ourselves as essential.