Clinic for Nuclear Medicine

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

the clinic for nuclear medicine offers, in close colaboration with other specialist disciplines of the Hospital, a wide range of modern as well as special diagnostics and therapies with radioactive substances.

The clinic looks back on a long history. An isotope department which was founded in the years from 1960 until 1963, was constantly developed and received the status of an independant clinic for nuclear medicine, the first of its kind in the DDR (German Democratic Republic), in 1971.

Today, we offer a comprehensive spectrum with respect to diagnostics and therapeutical treatments. Policlinics with Dispensaire-order make it possible that we in this connection can also take care of patients on an ambulatory basis. An interdisciplinary team of physicians, physicists, MTAs as well as a radiochemist guarantees the high qualitative practice of all examinations an treatment methods.

 
Range of services

• Complex nuclear medicine diagnostics in oncology, cardiology and the neuro specialist fields
• Specialist outpatients clinic for thyroid diseases/postoperative treatment and care of malignant thyroid tumors
• Radioiodine therapy of benign and malignant thyroid diseases
• Sentinel lymph node diagnosis

Specialist fields

• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Correlative imaging
• Radiosynoviorthesis of large and small joints in inflammatory joint diseases
• Examinations using the clinical whole body counter
• Lymphoma therapy with radioactively marked antibodies
  

Radioiodine Therapy of the Thyroid Gland

What is the function of the Thyroid Gland?

The thyroid gland produces hormones that are essential for the human body.  These hormones influence, amongst other things, the energy metabolism, gastro-intestinal tract, heart and circulatory system and the overall mental state.   Both too little (hypofunction) and too much (hyperfunction) of the thyroid hormones can lead to serious disturbances of important bodily functions.  For this reason the thyroid gland should be regularly checked and when required, correspondingly treated.

Radioiodine Therapy

Radioiodine therapy has been employed over the last 40 years as an effective and side-effect-free method of treatment.  Overactive regions of the thyroid gland are targeted and treated while normally functioning regions are preserved.  A radioactive form of normal iodine, which you will recognise as an important component of the nutrition, serves to perform this task.  You will take the radioactive iodine as a small capsule.  It will then travel via the bloodstream and be absorbed by the overactive regions of the thyroid gland.  In over 90% of all cases a hyperfunction of the thyroid gland can be cured by a single treatment.  In the few cases where a repeated treatment is necessary, this can also be carried out without complications.  A further advantage of this method of treatment is that there are no side-effects for the patient.  In exceptional cases the patient may experience a feeling of slight pressure in the neck area.

Why Stationary Treatment?

Only a small proportion of the complete administered radiation (the gamma component) possesses a higher emissions distance and can be measured outside of the body.  However Germany’s strict protective regulations concerning radiation require a stationary visit for radioiodine therapy due to this component of the radiation. 

Further measures are also required such as separate waste disposal – all excretions of our patients must be collected, separately processed and disposed – and corresponding constructional conditions, for example lead-reinforced walls in our rooms. 

The duration of your stay depends on your individual thyroid gland disorder and the corresponding amount of radioactive material used.  Approximately one week is the usual duration, sometimes less.

Our Radionuclide Therapy Ward

After consulting your physician you have opted for treatment on our radionuclide therapy ward.  Our team of qualified doctors and nursing staff are happy to be of assistance to you.  We have friendly, furnished one and two bed rooms with a shower and WC.  Large windows offer you an unrestricted view of the nature of Berlin-Buch.  In every patient room there is a radio and television set for your use. 

Unfortunately due to the above-mentioned reasons concerning protective regulations it is not possible to leave the ward during your therapy.  So that you do not have to forgo moving about, patients are usually allowed to leave their rooms and use the ward corridors and day room after two days.  Furthermore there is a ‘home trainer’ provided for your fitness.  You may lease a telephone. 

We are happy to discuss further optional services with you personally.  Nutritional consultants, our social services department and the hospital’s Christian spiritual care unit are available for you if you wish.  Of course our culinary team are also happy to accommodate your dietary or ethnically-determined nutritional preferences. 

Should you wish to know any more about radionuclide therapy or if you would like to make an appointment for treatment please feel free to contact us anytime or even stop by the ward directly.

Your Radionuclide Therapy Ward Team

Clinic for Nuclear Medicine