Nuclear Medicine

 

About Department:

 

The Department of Nuclear Medicine in Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences was   started in the year 1987 with the aim of providing newer clinical and imaging modalities on par with other departments of national eminence.  The department has grown to greater heights year after year and acquired state-of-the-art equipment E Cam Dual Head Gamma Camera in the year 1999, first of its kind in the country.  In addition, the department is equipped with whole body Gamma Camera System, Single Head SPECT Gamma Camera, Uptake Probe, Well Counter with Medical Spectrometer and other Radiation Protection instruments.

 

With the help of the state-of-the-art of equipment, the Department is rendering regular and quality services not only to the patients from NIMS but also referral patients from other corporate hospitals, public sector undertakings and other centers within the state and the neighbouring states as well.  The Department is offering Radio Iodine Therapy for Thyrotoxicosis and Cancer Thyroid patients. Imaging services are offered to departments of  Nephrology, Rheumatology, Cardiology, Urology, Orthopedics, Neurology and other specialities.  The department is the only Nuclear Medicine Department in the twin cities, which is performing emergency nuclear medicine procedures in clinical emergencies like pulmonary embolism, gastro intestinal bleeding and renal transplantations.

 

Two DNB Nuclear Medicine seats have been approved by NBE w.e.f. January 2006.  Two candidates are enrolled. 

 

Iodine 131 therapy ward has been  started since August 2006, facilitating high dose radioiodine therapy for Thyroid Cancer patients.  Ours is the only government institute where this facility renders services to poor patients of our state  offered at subsidized rates as per A.P. government guidelines.  

 

The department is also undertaking some unique investigations which are not available elsewhere in the country and started some innovative research of International Standards and introduced newer investigations with new concepts.  Procedures like Losartan Renogram has won International Award in the year 2000 and set new trends in Nuclear Medicine Sciences.  The department has also conducted an International Conference of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the year 1999 besides conducting local and regional nuclear medicine meetings and updates.  High dose radioiodine administration is being done with an innovative, venturi suction method reducing radiation  exposure to the technologists. 

 

The department has  three highly qualified Nuclear Medicine Physicians and four  well experienced Technologists.  The staff of the department actively imparts training to other faculty members, residents, technical staff and other paramedical people working in various departments.

  

Faculty:

 

            1.         Dr.(Gp.Capt.)V.V.S.Prabhakar Rao                 -           Professor & Head

                        MD(Radio-Diag), DNB(Radio-Diag),

                        DNB(Nucl.Med.), DRM

                        e.mail: vvs_prabhakar@yahoo.co.uk

 

            2.         Dr.Pushpalatha Sudhakar                                  -           Asst. Professor

                        MBBS, DNB (Nucl.Med.)

                        e.mail: pushpasudhakar@yahoo.co.in

 

Residents:                                                                      Senior Resident  - One  

                                                                                          DNB (Nucl Med )Residents - Two

Supporting Staff:

 

            1. Technical Officer      -           1

                         

            2. Technician (Gr-II)     -           3

                         

            3. Departmental P.S.    -           1

 

Courses offered:                                                               DNB (Nuclear Medicine)

 

Equipment (Major / Minor):

 

The department is equipped with state-of-art equipment of:

 

  1. Dual Head Gamma Camera

  2. Single Head (Orbitor) Gamma Camera

  3. Medical Spectrometer with well counter and Thyroid probe.

  4. Radiation protection instruments.

  5. Dose calibrators

  6. ECG monitor & Defibrillator

  7. Infusion Pump

 

Specialized Procedures:

 

The department is undertaking some specialized investigations with some innovative research of international standards like Losartan Renogram, Myocardial Perfusion Scans (STEM CELL project), Brain SPECTS (ICTAL & INTERICTAL) and Bone SPECT.

 

Research Projects:

 

i)                    A Randomized, Two-treatment, single dose parallel, comparative pharmaco-scintigraphic investigation of Mesalamine DR 400 mg tablets (Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd) and Asacol DR 400 mg Tablets (manufactured by Procter and Gamble) in 6 healthy adult human subjects under fasting conditions - completed.

ii)                   “ECG Brain Spect in stroke patients during pre and post ptyrigopalatine stimulation” – in association with Neurology department.

 

Patient Services:

 

a)      Diagnostic services, treatment for Thyrotoxicosis, Cancer Thyroid patients and Bone palliation therapy, etc.  In addition, all routine and emergency services are also being carried out.

b)      Cancer Therapy Ward has been started for giving high dose Iodine-131 therapy to the cancer thyroid patients. 

 

Academic Achievements: -   Nil   -

 

Awards Received:

 

Dr.Sundara Krishna Chirala, Former Head of the Department got “Young Scientist Award” at the International Nuclear Medicine conference held in Toronto, Canada in the year 2000.

 

CMEs Conducted:

 

The department has conducted an International workshop in association with International Atomic Energy Agency in the year 1999.  Besides, the department is also conducting local and regional nuclear medicine meetings and updates.

 

Workshops Conducted:                           Same as above

 

Guest Lectures delivered:

 

      By Dr.V.V.S. Prabhakar Rao:

 

i)                    “Nuclear Medicine – An introduction” : Indian Medical Association Vijayawada Branch, Bezwada Medical Association, Vijayawada on 26th May 1984

ii)                   “Nuclear and Chemical Disaster” Scientific Association of Jagjivanram Hospital Medical Officers (WR) Bombay, April 1991.

iii)                 Delivered Guest Lectures to the 2nd year M.Sc. (Nuclear Medicine) students of 

           Andhra University at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh from 8 – 12 August 2005.

iv)                 “Computers in Nuclear Medicine and Date Processing” School of Medical Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 3rd Sept. 2003.

v)                  “Instrumentation : Gamma Camera, SPECT, PET”  School of Medical Sciences and Technology , Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 3rd Sept. 2003.

vi)                 Guest faculty in the CME on “Emerging trends in Nuclear Medicine Imaging and Therapy” held at Army Hospital, Delhi, Cant. On 8th & 9th October 2005.

vii)               Guest lecture delivered on “Bone pain palliation” at Army Hospital, Delhi, Cantt. On 8th & 9th October 2005.

viii)              Guest lecture delivered on “Renal transplant evaluation” at Army Hospital, Delhi, Cantt. On 8th & 9th October 2005.     

 

      By Dr.Pushpalatha Sudhakar

 

1.      Delivered a Guest Lecture on “Knee SPECT Anatomy” in the 2nd Annual Conference of Association of Nuclear Medicine Physicians of India held at Darjeeling between 28 – 31st October 2004.

2.      Delivered a Guest Lecture on “Nuclear Medicine in Pediatrics” in the inaugural CME organized by Apollo Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka in June 2003.

 

      Sri V.Kumara Swamy, Technical Officer

 

1.      Academically, the departmental Technical staff are also competing in teaching and training to other staff and Residents from other departments.  Mr.Kumara Swamy has delivered Guest Lectures about Nuclear Medicine speciality to the students of 2nd year M.Sc (Nuclear Medicine) students from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

 

Papers Published:                        

 

i)                    “Radionuclide Dachryoscintigraphy : A Physiological Imaging Technique”, Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine Vol.1 No.1 April 1986.

ii)                   “Unusual Complication of Eltroxine Withdrawal during Carcinoma Thyroid Follow up” : Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine Vol. No. 1991.

iii)                 “Functioning Hepatic Metastasis of Differentiated Carcinoma Thyroid”, Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine Vo,. No. 1992.

iv)                 “Imaging in Transplant Nephrology – Present Status of Nuclear Medicine” – Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine Vol. 14, No.2, June 1999. 

 

Papers Presented:

 

Dr.V.V.S.Prabhakar Rao

 

1.       “Renal dynamic studies with Tc99m DTPA in the evaluation of kidney disorders” : XV Annual Conference of Society of Nuclear Medicine Indian – Jaipur, 25th – 27th November 1983.

2.      “Evaluation of whole body imaging in various clinical syndromes” : XV Annual Conference of Society of Nuclear Medicine Indian – Jaipur, 25th – 27th November 1983.

3.      “A typical case of Carcinoma Thyroid” : XV Annual Conference of Society of Nuclear Medicine Indian – Jaipur, 25th – 27th November 1983.

4.      “Pit falls and dilemmas in isotopic brain imaging” : XV Annual Conference of Society of Nuclear Medicine Indian – Jaipur, 25th – 27th November 1983.

5.      “An uncommon case of thyrotoxicosis” : XVI Annual Conference of Society of Nuclear Medicine India – Ahmedabad, December 1984.

6.      “Lachrymal scintigraphy in chronic Dachryocystitis” : XVIII Annual Conference of Society of Nuclear Medicine India and Seminars of Indo-American Society of Nuclear Medicine (USA) – Bangalore, 105 January 1986.

7.      “Simplified technique of GFR estimation”, XIX Annual Conference of Society of Nuclear Medicine India and Update of Imaging, at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, 19-22 December 1987.

8.      “Radionuclide studies in obstructive jaundice”, Society of Academic Radiologists of Bombay, KEM Hospital, Bombay, 23rd July 1989.

9.      “Biological effects of radiation and their prevention”, National Conference on Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, XI Naval Medical Symposium – Bombay, 3rd & 4th November 1999.

10.  “Recent advances in radionuclide therapy”, Nucl. Med. CME & Symposium, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences – Lucknow (UP), 4th & 5th October 1997.

11.  “Principles of radiation protection measures”, Continuing Nursing Education, NBC welfare and nurses’ role, Command Hospital (EC) – Kolkata, 2nd – 13th Dec. 2002.

12.  “Evaluation of acute abdomen” Management of Emergencies in Clinical Practice, CME programme, Command Hospital (EC), Kolkata, 6th & 7th Sept. 2003.

13.  “Efficacy of SPECT study in Evaluation of Solitary Vertebral Lesions” in the 57th Annual Congress of IRIA held at Hyderabad from 8-11 January 2004.

14.  “Plain radiographic substitutions of ventilation scan in suspected acute pulmonary Thromboembolic emergencies”.  XXXVI Annual Conference of SNM India, Mysore, 15-18 Dec. 2004.

15.  “Improvised technique of I131 dose administration using venturi principle: XXXVI Annual Conference of SNM India, Mysore, 15-18 Dec. 2004.

 

Dr. Pushpalatha Sudhakar

 

1.      “Bone SPECT in the Evaluation of Solitary Vertebral Lesions” in SN conference on 14th December 2003.

2.      “Pediatric Skeletal Scintigraphy” in a CME organized by Vijaya Diagnostic Centre, Hyderabad on 11th October 2003.

3.      “Captopril Renal Artery Stenosis” in the SNM (Southern Chapter) conference held at Trivendrum in June 2004.

4.      “Pre-surgical Localization of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy” in the 4th Asian Regional Cooperative Council for Nuclear Medicine (ARCCNM) held at Bangkok, Thailand.

 

Dr.Manishi L. Narayan

 

1.      “Four Consecutive cases of Paget’s Disease of Bone – Significance of 99mTc MDP Skeletal Scintigraphy” in the XXXVI Annual Conference of Society of Nuclear Medicine held at Mysore between 15-18th December 2004.

 

Conferences Conducted:             

 

The department has conducted one International Conference in association with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the year 1999.

 

Other information:

 

Sri V.Kumara Swamy, Technical Officer has been selected as “National Assessor and Supervisor” for DAT course conducted jointly by IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria) and Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia and assed 5 candidates at INMAS, Delhi in the year 2002.