[NUCLEAR MEDICINE IN ISRAEL: PAST, PRESENT AND ESPECIALLY THE FUTURE].

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The current issue is dedicated to nuclear medicine in Israel. It contains articles concerning various fields in nuclear medicine including imaging and treatment. These articles provide a glimpse into the vast scope of nuclear medicine. Over the years, the nuclear medicine profession has undergone many changes and developed extensively. Currently, it is not just part of the imaging domain, but rather, it is an independent entity, that continues to grow and develop. This profession has had a great influence on patient health because of advanced imaging technologies, the possibility of treating with unique radioactive materials, and theranostics (imaging the therapeutic material) that enables the combination of diagnostic imaging and targeted treatment personally tailored for the patient. Today, nuclear medicine is considered one of the most dynamic and advanced professions. Research in nuclear medicine points to a future with ultrafast imaging technology. This includes a seemingly limitless number of new radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and treatment and collaborations with other scientific fields.