ENDOCRINOLOGIC APPLICATIONS IN NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

Diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases have played a major role i n Central European Nuclear Medicine. Since 1950, endocrinological nucl ear medicine has been one of the strengths of this medical discipline. Not only diagnosis but also conservative treatment with thyroid depre ssants or hormones is performed by the nuclear medicine specialists. N uclear medicine also takes part in the diagnosis of other endocrine di seases. The respective procedures include imaging of the adrenal gland (cortex and medulla) as well as of the parathyroid glands. Especially in the latter diseases, imaging was improved through Tc-99m sestamibi scintigraphy. Beyond that, the measurement of bone mineral content co ntributes to the full spectrum of endocrinological nuclear medicine. T he development of In-ill octreotide now plays a limited role in the di agnosis of diseases of the pituitary gland. (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company