Which branch of medicine utilizes radionuclides for diagnosis and treatment?

Nuclear medicine is the branch of medicine that specifically involves the use of radionuclides, which are radioactive isotopes, for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In diagnostic applications, patients may be administered a small amount of a radionuclide that emits gamma rays, which can be detected by a special camera to create images of organs and tissues, allowing for the evaluation of their function and structure. This technique is particularly useful for diagnosing conditions in organs such as the thyroid, heart, and bones.

In terms of treatment, nuclear medicine can involve the use of targeted radionuclide therapy, where isotopes are used to target and destroy cancerous tissues or to treat various diseases, such as hyperthyroidism. This makes nuclear medicine a key player in the intersection of diagnosis and treatment using radioactive materials.

The other fields mentioned—oncology, endocrinology, and radiology—might utilize some imaging techniques or involve treatments that can include radiation, but they do not focus primarily on the use of radionuclides as a central part of their practice like nuclear medicine does.