Nuclear Radiology

The UT Health’s section of Nuclear Medicine provides imaging services for San Antonio’s University Hospital and UT Medicine Systems. Our team is comprised of 4 board certified physicians that have achieved subspecialized training through dedicated nuclear medicine residencies and fellowships. Our section delivers comprehensive Nuclear Medicine services with cutting edge techniques, some of which include:

Advanced Nuclear Medicine Techniques Provided:

• PET/CT Imaging: Offers on-site state of the art Time of Flight (TOF) PET/CT for detection of malignancy, initial staging, response to therapy and restaging of disease to include lymphoma (Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma), lung, breast, ovarian, cervical, uterine, esophageal, colon cancerd and many others. We offer imaging with the newly released radiotracer Axumin for PET/CT indicated for suspected prostate cancer recurrence.
• Nuclear Brain Imaging:
  • Brain PET/CT Imaging: Utilizing Siemens MI Neurology software, which identifies abnormal regions and compares with a normal database, providing information on the degree of deviation for a particular anatomic region. Used for dementia evaluation including Alzheimer’s disease and for epilepsy evaluation.  
  • Dopamine Transporter Imaging (DaTscan): for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
  • Brain Perfusion SPECT Imaging: for intractable seizure localization with interictal and ictal SPECT brain scans subtraction and MRI image co-registration.
• Osteomyelitis Imaging with Hybrid Modality: utilizing single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/x-ray computed tomography (CT) for 3-D imaging:
  • Bone scan with multiphase SPECT/CT imaging.
  • White blood cell (WBC) infection imaging with simultaneous acquisition of radiolabeled WBC and bone marrow agent with SPECT subtraction.
• Myocardial SPECT Perfusion Imaging: for diagnosis of myocardial ischemia and infarction via stress and rest and as needed viability imaging and a gated acquisition for the determination of left ventricular ejection fraction.
• Comprehensive Nuclear Medicine Endocrine Collaboration and Clinic: for diagnostic evaluation and radiotherapy of hyperthyroidism and most thyroid cancers.
• Radiotherapeutic Microspheres for the Treatment of Liver Cancer with SPECT/CT pre-therapy and post-therapy imaging. Availability of two different Y-90 beta-emitting microspheres, Y-90 SIR-spheres for a more embolic therapy and Y-90 Theraspheres for more specific radiation therapy and segmentectomy.

Solid Gastric Emptying 4-hour study: utilizing the standardized radiolabeled egg meal, simultaneous blood glucose levels, and patient

• Symptoms to assess for delayed gastric emptying (gastroparesis) and rapid gastric emptying (functional dyspepsia). Availability of a standardized liquid carbohydrate glucose meal for assessment of carbohydrate gastric emptying.
• Parathyroid Imaging using SPECT/CT Imaging with capability for Parathyroid 4D-CT Image Fusion: for the diagnosis of parathyroid adenomas and improved pre-surgical localization.
• Extensive Research Capabilities in Clinical Nuclear Medicine: Current Phase I/II testing of a novel nanoparticle radionuclide therapy for the treatment of glioblastoma. This novel therapy has been developed in the UT Health’s radiology research laboratories and its clinical testing is an example of a bench to bedside initiative.

Nuclear Medicine Physicians

• Umber Salman, MD

  Assistant Professor of Radiology
  Section Director of Nuclear Medicine
  Email: salmanu@uthscsa.edu

• William Phillips, MD

  Professor of Radiology
  Email: phillips@uthscsa.edu

• Darlene Metter, MD

  Professor of Radiology and Family & Community Medicine
  Email: metter@uthscsa.edu

• Thanh Van, MD

  Assistant Professor of Radiology
  Email: vant@uthscsa.edu