Programs that treat people who have a particular illness or condition through the application of chemical reagents which have a specific and toxic effect upon the disease-causing organism, or through the use of radioactive substances including radioactive isotopes and ionizing radiation to kill diseased cells. Included are radioactive implants, x-ray radiation therapy and supervoltage and megavoltage treatments with specialized equipment including cobalt units, linear accelerators with or without electron team therapy capability, betatrons and van de Graff machines.

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Programs that are staffed by specialists who have expertise in the diagnostic and therapeutic utilization of the nuclear properties of radioactive and stable nuclides including radioimmunoassay; therapy with radioisotopically labelled antibodies; positron emission tomography (PET); and single-proton emission computerized tomography (SPECT). Additionally, the nuclear medicine physician has special knowledge in the biological effects of radiation exposure; the principles of radiation safety and protection; the management of patients who have been exposed to ionizing radiation; and special knowledge in the physical sciences encompassing the fundamentals of nuclear physics and nuclear magnetic resonance and the principles and operation of radiation detection and nuclear imaging instrumentation systems.

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