Business Daily Media

The Times Real Estate

.

New Frontiers in Medical Diagnostics and Treatments with Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine has come a long way since its potential as a medical speciality was identified over half-a-century ago.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach - 17 May 2023 - Nuclear medicine, a specialised area of radiology, involves the application of radioactive substances in the body and subsequent imaging capabilities to examine the internal workings of our body.

The latest advances in nuclear medicine are geared towards enhancing the experience and safety of patients undergoing such treatments, as well as reducing potential side effects.

Picture1.jpg


In 2022, the first fully fledged private nuclear medicine centre in Northern Malaysia was launched in Penang Adventist Hospital[1]. "There is a frequent misassociation of nuclear medicine with nuclear bombs and power plants. In actual fact, nuclear medicine makes use of trace amounts of radioactive energy emitted from the nucleus of the atom for diagnostics and therapeutic purposes," explained Dr. Alex Khoo, a Consultant Nuclear Medicine Physician at the hospital.

It is important to note that the radioactive dose used in nuclear medicine scans are very low and harmless to the body. Radiation is typically found everywhere, including in our own bodies and the food we eat.

Nuclear medicine opens doors to diagnostics and treatment procedures for illnesses such as hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, lymphomas, bone pain and numerous other types of cancers. In nuclear medicine therapy, the radioactive material is combined with a carrier molecule. This is called a radiopharmaceutical. These are administered to the body where they attach to specific cells, destroying them with a high dose of radiation.

Radiopharmaceuticals are highly regulated, and only minimal doses of radiation are typically absorbed by the body, making it safe even for children. ""As the tracers used in nuclear medicine are targeted to a specific organ of interest, treatment is also rather safe. Only the diseased organ is targeted with minimal effect to other parts of the body. For theranostics, patients are only required to ingest minute amounts of radioactive substances in order for imaging equipment to capture changes in organs or tissue structure," continued Dr. Khoo.

From treating thyroid disease using iodine isotopes to more targeted cancer screening, nuclear technology in medicine has come a long way. Today, high contrast imaging of specific cells and tissues allow earlier detection of conditions, from blood clots to abnormal thyroid tissue, while reducing radiation exposure to permissible limits for both medical professionals and patients.

"New radiopharmaceuticals are being developed, expanding nuclear medicine to fields like cardiology, endocrinology and gastroenterology. For example, the myocardial perfusion scan, allows us to determine the blood flow to the heart muscle and detect obstructions or reduced blood flow in blood vessels, while a radioactive iodine scan can evaluate abnormal thyroid tissue," said Dr. Aqilah Othman, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Sunway Medical Centre.

Besides that, in the field of gastroenterology, nuclear medicine is used for liver-spleen scans to evaluate liver function. In nephrology, it is used for renal scans to detect the location, size, shape, blood supply and function of the kidneys, diagnose urinary tract obstruction and any decreased function. Other nuclear medicine imaging capabilities include scans of other organs like the brain, salivary glands and lungs.

The hospitals in Malaysia adhere to global safety precautions to protect workers, patients and their caregivers from the harmful effects of radiation. These include having dose limits and applying the 'As Low As Reasonably Achievable' (ALARA) principle to ensure that doses administered are well below the dose limits.

Nuclear medicine in Malaysia has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent times, and continues to transform the medical landscape to date. With an expanding availability of nuclear medicine technologies and expertise in the country, healthcare travellers who choose to go to Malaysia will be able to experience true care in a safe and trusted destination.

For more information on Malaysia Healthcare and its services, please visit https://malaysiahealthcare.org.my or visit our social feeds at: www.facebook.com/MHTCMalaysia or at LinkedIn (Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council).

Hashtag: #MalaysiaHealthcare

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council

The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is a government agency under the Ministry of Health Malaysia that has been entrusted with the responsibility of curating the country's healthcare travel scene. Founded in 2009, MHTC works to streamline industry players and service providers in facilitating and growing Malaysia's healthcare travel industry under the brand "Malaysia Healthcare" with the intended goal of making Malaysia the leading global healthcare destination. MHTC works closely with over 80 private healthcare facilities in Malaysia, who are registered members of MHTC.

News from Asia

VinUniversity and NTU Singapore to establish a strategic, comprehensive and long-term alliance

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 13 March 2025 - VinUniversity (VinUni) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU – Singapore) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to e...

Kind+Jugend ASEAN 2025: The Premier Gateway to Southeast Asia’s Booming Maternity & Baby Market

Meet Buyers. Expand Markets. Unlock Opportunities. BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 March 2025 - Kind+Jugend ASEAN 2025, the region's largest trade fair for maternity, baby, and ...

Liverpool FC welcomes Visit Maldives to its global partnership portfolio

LIVERPOOL, UK - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 March 2025 - Liverpool FC has agreed a multi-year global partnership with Visit Maldives, making it the club's official tourist destination partner. ...

MSIG expands Political Risk and Trade Credit capabilities in Hong Kong and Singapore through strategic collaboration with its USA office

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 March 2025 - MSIG Hong Kong and MSIG Singapore have jointly announced a strategic collaboration with MSIG USA to strengthen its political risk and tra...

Prudence Foundation launches 2025 Disaster Tech Awards and partnership with AVPN

Awards and partnership to drive innovation and investment in climate and health resilience HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 March 2025 - Prudence Foundation, the community investment ...

Finexcellent Ramadan: Trade, Learn, and Give Back

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 March 2025 - Finex, an acclaimed Indonesian broker, has launched a 2025 Ramadan promotion. Titled Finexcellent Ramadan, the promo takes Finex tra...

Trend Micro Ranked #1 Channel Champion by Canalys

Recognized for “go-to-market innovation and consistent partner engagement” HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 March 2025 - Cybersecurity giant Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: ...

British Council East Asia Education Week 2025 Strengthening UK-East Asia higher education partnerships

UK Vice-Chancellors, UK alumni and East Asia leaders convene in Hong Kong to shape the future of mobility, research, and innovation partnerships. HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 March...

Calling Global Startups! EPIC 2025 Opens Application with US$100M Investment Up for Grabs

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 March 2025 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) is excited to announce the 9th edition of the Elevator Pitch International Comp...

High Marks for Hong Kong’s University Degree Courses

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Neswire - 14 March 2025 - Hong Kong has emerged as the world's "most improved" location for university degree courses, reflecting the determination of the Hong Kong ...

NextOre Unveils World First MR Analyser for Underground Copper Trucks

NextOre, a global leader in  Magnetic Resonance (MR)-enabled bulk ore sorting technology, has now made its world first sensor system available for...

Incode joins Australia’s Age Assurance Technology Trial to protect children online

With a market-leading +99% accuracy rate, Incode will play a key role in safeguarding Aussie minors on social media Incode Technologies Inc., a...

Empowering small businesses: Localsearch rolls out affordable digital solutions

New suite of digital solutions designed to boost visibility, engagement, and customer acquisition In response to a rapidly evolving digital lan...

Why Responsible Leadership is a Competitive Advantage for Small Businesses

In today’s fast-changing business landscape, leadership is evolving. While large corporations are reassessing their diversity, equity, and inclusi...

Why it’s a great time to include the EU in your export push

With the US market beset with unknowns, training your sights on mainland Europe in 2025 makes sound sense. Wondering whether the introduction o...

Success Isn’t About Labels—It’s About Mindset

In the lead up to International Women’s Day, I’ve been reflecting on my own success as a business owner and whether or not being a woman has playe...

Sell by LayBy