Nuclear Medicine Imaging and Therapy

UMass Memorial Health is a leader in nuclear medicine diagnosis and treatment, known as theranostics. You have access to the latest technology and highly trained nuclear medicine radiologists, who work together to tailor your treatment. Our experts have advanced fellowship training and translate the latest nuclear medicine research into more precise, effective care.

What Is Nuclear Medicine Imaging?

We use nuclear medicine to get detailed images of areas of your body. This approach helps us diagnose the condition and tailor a targeted, precise treatment plan. During nuclear medicine imaging:

1. You receive a small, safe dose of a radioactive material (tracer) by mouth or injection.
2. Your body sends this tracer to the area that needs imaging.
3. A special scanner creates an image with the location of the tracer and shows how your body has processed the material. We use this information to plan your treatment.
4. After a day or so, the material is no longer detectable in your body. 

Conditions We Diagnose Using Nuclear Medicine Imaging

We offer a full range of nuclear medicine services to give your team essential information about the structure and function of your organs, bones and other tissues. This detailed evaluation helps your team develop the treatment plan that is right for you.

Nuclear medicine helps us diagnose and treat several types of cancer, including:

• Prostate cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Liver cancer

We also use nuclear medicine scans to look for signs of:

• Arthritis
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Heart disease
• Thyroid disorders
• Infections
• Kidney disorders
• Neurological conditions
• Respiratory disorders 

What Is Nuclear Medicine Therapy (Theranostics)?

Theranostics is an advanced approach that combines diagnosis and treatment into a single process that we use to personalize cancer treatment. (The term “theranostics” comes from “therapeutic” and “diagnostic.”)

Similar to nuclear medicine imaging, we use a special radioactive tracer to find and highlight cancer cells during a scan. We then use a similar compound to deliver targeted treatment directly to those cancer cells.

The second compound has more powerful radiation and binds to the tumor cells to destroy them. This higher dose of radiation requires careful coordination by your care team. They work closely together to offer you a safe, effective procedure.

Benefits of Theranostics

Theranostics has several advantages:

• Precise: We can find and treat cancer more precisely since it targets only the harmful cells while sparing healthy ones.
• Personalized: It enables more personalized treatment based on how the cancer behaves in each person. This individualization can reduce side effects and improve treatment results.
• Well-tolerated: People generally tolerate the treatment well, with few side effects.

Types of Nuclear Medicine Therapies We Offer

We use nuclear medicine to treat several types of cancer. Your team will talk to you about the treatment, how it works, what to expect and next steps.

UMass Memorial is a regional leader in cancer care, offering a comprehensive range of nuclear medicine therapies to treat cancer and help you feel your best.

As the first hospital in Central Massachusetts to provide Pluvicto® — an innovative therapy for metastatic, treatment-resistant prostate cancer — we’re committed to bringing the latest, most advanced treatments close to home.

Nuclear medicine therapies we provide:

• Pluvicto (radioligand therapy): You receive this medication as either IV infusion or IV injection. It helps treat prostate cancer that has spread to the bones or has not responded to other therapies. Pluvicto delivers radiation directly to the tumors, destroying cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
• Radioiodine ablation: You swallow a small dose of radioactive iodine, which travels through your bloodstream to reach the thyroid gland. It then uses radiation to destroy overactive or cancerous thyroid cells.
• Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT, or radioembolization): This minimally invasive catheterization procedure helps treat liver tumors. It delivers radiation directly to the tumor while sparing healthy liver tissue. We use SIRT to shrink tumors, help people live longer and provide relief from symptoms. This treatment is especially appropriate for patients where surgery is not an option.
• Xofigo®: You receive this medication as an injection. It helps treat prostate cancer that has spread to the bones (metastasized).