Departments

Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

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Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Providing Advanced Molecular Imaging, Laboratory Tests and Targeted Therapy using Radioactive Drugs

Nuclear Medicine is a medical specialty that uses radiotracers or radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and treat disease by assessing physiological functions at the cellular and molecular levels. It is an interdisciplinary field integrating clinical medicine, radiopharmacy, physics, biology, and other basic sciences.

Our department provides in vivo nuclear imaging tests, in vitro nuclear laboratory testing, and radiopharmaceutical therapy. As a key component of precision and personalized medicine, we offer advanced technologies that reveal identify information at the cellular or molecular level.

Leader in Nuclear Diagnosis and Theranostics

When Samsung Medical Center opened in 1994, we established Korea's first positon emission tomography (PET) center equipped with both a PET scanner and a cyclotron, pioneering nuclear imaging in the country.

In 2003, we introduced Korea's first integrated PET/CT scanner, expanding the clinical utility of PET imaging. In 2010, we became the first institution in Korea accredited under ISO 15189 (KOLAS) for medical laboratory testing, and we currently operate an internationally certified in vitro nuclear testing facility.

As of 2025, our department is equipped with 4 state-of-the-art integrated PET/CT scanners, 6 SPECT gamma cameras, 1 SPECT/CT gamma camera, 1 cyclotron and equipment for the production and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals, 6 gamma counters, etc.

Specialized Expertise

Nuclear Molecular Imaging

We use advanced radiotracers to visualize and quantify pathological processes at the cellular and molecular levels, delivering highly sensitive diagnostic imaging with unique insights into functional diagnostic information.

Targeted Radionuclide Therapy Clinic

We offer targeted radionuclide therapies using agents such as I-131, Lu-177 or Ac-255 that bind to specific receptors expressed in diseases including neuroendocrine tumors, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, bone metastasis.

In Vitro Laboratory Testing

Our in vitro diagnostics use radiolabeled substances or antibodies to measure trace substances in blood, urine or other body fluids with high sensitivity and specificity-supporting disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

A Cornerstone of Precision and Personalized Medicine

Nuclear medicine molecular imaging is essential to precision and personalized medicine. By using radiotracers that target specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, or gene expressions, we obtain real-time images that reflect biological processes in individual patients. This enables accurate disease characterization and guides customized treatment strategies for conditions such as cancer, neurological diseases (including dementia), and cardiovascular diseases.

To this end, our department conducts a wide range of research focused on expanding the clinical applications of nuclear molecular imaging, yielding numerous impactful outcomes.