Nuclear Medicine is a specialized branch of medical imaging and therapy that uses small amounts of radioactive substances to diagnose and treat diseases at a molecular level. Unlike conventional imaging, it evaluates organ function, metabolism, and disease activity rather than just structure. This enables early detection of cancer, heart disease, infections, and neurological conditions. Nuclear Medicine also offers targeted treatments, known as theranostics, which precisely deliver therapy to diseased cells while sparing healthy tissue.

Theranostics is an advanced approach that combines diagnosis and treatment using the same molecular target. A diagnostic scan identifies disease-specific receptors, followed by targeted radionuclide therapy to treat the condition. It is especially effective in cancers such as thyroid cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and prostate cancer. Theranostics allows personalized treatment planning, improved outcomes, reduced side effects, and real-time assessment of treatment response, making it a cornerstone of precision oncology.

PET/CT scans are widely used in oncology for cancer detection, staging, restaging, and response assessment. They are also valuable in evaluating infections, inflammatory conditions, neurological disorders, and certain cardiac conditions. PET/CT provides highly sensitive metabolic information combined with anatomical detail, allowing accurate diagnosis even before structural changes appear. This enables clinicians to make informed decisions regarding treatment planning, therapy monitoring, and long-term disease management.

Nuclear medicine procedures are extremely safe when performed under expert supervision. The radioactive tracers used are administered in very small, controlled doses and are designed to decay naturally or exit the body quickly. Therapies are precisely targeted to diseased tissues, minimizing exposure to healthy organs. Strict international safety protocols are followed, including isolation facilities where required. Dr. Gayana Shankaramurthy ensures patient safety, comfort, and compliance with global radiation safety standards at every step.

Radionuclide therapy is effective for several cancers, including thyroid cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, prostate cancer, liver tumors, and select pediatric tumors. Treatments such as I-131 therapy, Lu-177 or Ac-225 DOTATATE, PSMA therapy, TARE, and MIBG therapy target cancer cells precisely using molecular pathways. These therapies are particularly beneficial for advanced, metastatic, or recurrent cancers, offering symptom relief, disease control, and improved quality of life with fewer systemic side effects.

Nuclear Cardiology focuses on evaluating heart function, blood flow, and myocardial viability using specialized imaging techniques. It helps detect coronary artery disease, assess heart muscle damage, and evaluate treatment effectiveness. These studies are non-invasive and highly accurate, allowing cardiologists to identify risk early and tailor treatment strategies. Nuclear cardiology plays a crucial role in preventing heart attacks, guiding interventions, and improving long-term cardiac outcomes, especially in patients with complex or silent heart disease.

Molecular imaging visualizes disease processes at a cellular and receptor level, often before symptoms or structural changes occur. Advanced tracers such as PSMA, DOTANOC, FAPI, and others allow precise identification of cancer type, extent, and biological behavior. This level of accuracy helps clinicians choose the most effective therapy, avoid unnecessary procedures, and monitor treatment response early. Molecular imaging is central to personalized medicine and significantly improves diagnostic confidence and treatment success.

SPECT/CT combines functional nuclear imaging with CT-based anatomical detail. It is commonly used for bone scans, cardiac imaging, infection localization, and organ function studies. While PET/CT offers higher sensitivity for many cancers, SPECT/CT remains highly valuable for specific clinical indications and is more widely available. Both modalities complement each other and are selected based on the patient’s condition, diagnostic requirement, and treatment planning needs.

A PET/CT scan is a comfortable and well-tolerated procedure. After receiving a small injection of a radioactive tracer, patients rest briefly before scanning. The scan itself is painless and typically takes 20–30 minutes. Patients are advised to remain still for accurate imaging. Dr. Gayana Shankaramurthy and her team ensure clear instructions, patient comfort, and safety throughout the process, addressing any concerns before and after the scan

Theranostics is fundamentally different from chemotherapy. While chemotherapy affects both cancerous and healthy cells, theranostic treatments are highly targeted, delivering radiation directly to cancer cells through specific molecular receptors. This precision results in fewer side effects, better tolerance, and improved quality of life. Theranostics also allows imaging-based confirmation of treatment suitability before therapy, making it a personalized and evidence-driven approach to cancer care.

Yes, nuclear medicine is widely used beyond oncology. It plays an important role in diagnosing heart disease, kidney disorders, thyroid dysfunction, bone infections, joint conditions, and inflammatory diseases. Techniques like renal scintigraphy, radiosynovectomy, and infection imaging provide valuable functional insights that guide treatment decisions. Nuclear medicine offers accurate, non-invasive evaluation for many chronic and complex medical conditions, often when other imaging methods are inconclusive.

Dr. Gayana Shankaramurthy brings unmatched expertise, global academic recognition, and extensive hands-on experience in Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics. Having interpreted over 85,000 advanced imaging studies and treated more than 1,000 theranostic patients, she combines diagnostic precision with compassionate care. Her leadership in developing advanced nuclear medicine departments, commitment to patient safety, and active role in research and innovation make her one of Bengaluru’s most trusted specialists in this field.