1,202
Nuclear Medicine Physicians
100%
Accepting patients
82%
Most common: MD
FindClarity lists 1,202 nuclear medicine physicians nationwide. 100% are currently accepting new patients. The most common credential is MD (82%). 57% accept Medicare.
Nuclear medicine physicians use small amounts of radioactive materials (tracers) to diagnose and treat diseases. Diagnostic studies include PET scans, bone scans, thyroid uptake scans, and cardiac stress tests using nuclear tracers. Therapeutic applications include radioactive iodine for thyroid disease and targeted radionuclide therapy for certain cancers.
After medical school, nuclear medicine physicians complete a residency that may follow several pathways: a three-year nuclear medicine residency, a combined radiology/nuclear medicine program, or a nuclear medicine fellowship after a radiology or internal medicine residency. Their training covers radiation physics, radiopharmaceuticals, image interpretation, and radiation safety.
Nuclear medicine provides functional imaging, showing how organs and tissues work, rather than just their structure. A PET scan, for example, shows metabolic activity, which can reveal cancer, infection, or inflammation that structural imaging (CT, MRI) might miss or characterize differently.
You typically do not see a nuclear medicine physician directly. Your treating doctor orders nuclear medicine studies when needed. Common reasons include cancer staging (PET/CT), evaluating thyroid function, assessing blood flow to the heart (cardiac stress test), detecting bone metastases or fractures (bone scan), and evaluating kidney function. For radioactive iodine therapy for thyroid disease, you will consult with a nuclear medicine or endocrinology specialist.
For a diagnostic scan, a technologist injects a small amount of radioactive tracer into your vein. After a waiting period (which varies by study), you lie on a scanning table while a camera detects the tracer's distribution in your body. The scan itself is painless. The nuclear medicine physician interprets the images and sends a report to your doctor. Radiation exposure is low and the tracer is eliminated naturally within hours to days.
PET/CT scan: $1,000-6,000 · Bone scan: $500-2,000 · Thyroid uptake scan: $200-1,000 · Cardiac nuclear stress test: $500-3,000
The radiation dose from most nuclear medicine studies is comparable to a CT scan and is considered safe when medically indicated. The radioactive tracers used have short half-lives, meaning they lose their radioactivity quickly and are cleared from your body within hours to days. The diagnostic information gained almost always outweighs the minimal radiation risk.
A CT scan shows detailed anatomy (organ size, shape, position). A PET scan shows metabolic activity, highlighting areas where cells are using more energy than normal, which can indicate cancer, infection, or inflammation. Most PET scans today are combined PET/CT, giving both functional and anatomic information in a single study.
Preparation varies by study type. For a PET scan, you fast for four to six hours beforehand, avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours, and may need to adjust diabetes medications. Thyroid scans may require stopping certain medications. Your imaging center will give you specific instructions when you schedule. Follow them carefully for the most accurate results.
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Nuclear medicine studies are covered under diagnostic imaging benefits. PET/CT scans almost always require prior authorization from your insurance company. Studies must be deemed medically necessary. Some insurers restrict PET scan coverage to specific cancer types or clinical scenarios. Verify authorization before the study to avoid unexpected costs.