Nuclear radiology is the use of radiation and imaging systems to detect disease. A nuclear radiologist uses radioactive substances to diagnose and treat cancer and other diseases, and to research treatment for diseases. The radioactive molecules are administered to patients and then measured in the body, or samples taken from body tissue or fluids are measured. Radiation changes the body’s tissues and cells, so the tests performed after radiation is administered indicate the extent of certain diseases.

Sometimes radiation is used to kill certain cancer cells, or to reduce the pain of bone cancer. A nuclear medicine physician uses radiology to learn the effectiveness of tumor treatment, to detect cancer, diagnose infection and inflammation, or detect a blood clot in the lungs.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. The United States has 1,939 practicing nuclear radiologists. Broken out by state, nuclear radiology doctor density in Alabama is 16, in Alaska is 2, in Arizona is 43, in Arkansas is 19, in California is 238, in Colorado is 37, in Connecticut is 58, in Delaware is 7, in District of Columbia is 9, in Florida is 149, in Georgia is 62, in Hawaii is 17, in Idaho is 1, in Illinois is 76, in Indiana is 53, in Iowa is 13, in Kansas is 23, in Kentucky is 22, in Louisiana is 16, in Maine is 22, in Maryland is 42, in Massachusetts is 73, in Michigan is 58, in Minnesota is 26, in Mississippi is 12, in Missouri is 40, in Montana is 7, in Nebraska is 13, in Nevada is 7, in New Hampshire is 7, in New Jersey is 117, in New Mexico is 10, in New York is 209, in North Carolina is 54, in North Dakota is 3, in Ohio is 79, in Oklahoma is 15, in Oregon is 8, in Pennsylvania is 130, in Rhode Island is 12, in South Carolina is 36, in South Dakota is 4, in Tennessee is 42, in Texas is 137, in Utah is 10, in Vermont is 4, in Virginia is 76, in Washington is 34, in West Virginia is 21, in Wisconsin is 38, and in Wyoming is 3.