How do radiopharmaceuticals detect pathology?
Once the radiopharmaceutical enters the body, the target organ collects/accumulates it. The detection device, a gamma camera, is placed over the patient in the area of interest and the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical is detected and recorded. A cold, or photon-deficient, area means that there was no accumulation of the radiopharmaceutical and that it was not carried to that area via the circulatory system. A hot, or photon-rich area, means that there is increased activity in that area of interest.
