Nuclear Medicine Status in Egypt: Our Beginnings and Where We Are Now .

Nuclear medicine began to take shape in the early 20th century with the discovery of radioactivity and has since grown into a crucial important medical specialty that uses radioisotopes for imaging, diagnosis, and treatment in health care [1]. The first radiopharmaceutical, sodium iodide-I-131, was developed in the 1930s for thyroid treatment [2]. The 1940s and 1950s saw significant growth in nuclear medicine, with the development of imaging techniques such as the gamma camera and the introduction of new radiopharmaceuticals [3]. In the mid-20th century, nuclear medicine began to establish itself as a distinct medical specialty. Professional societies and organizations dedicated to nuclear medicine were founded to promote research, education, and clinical practice [4]. Advances in imaging technology, such as Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), further expanded the diagnostic capabilities of nuclear medicine [5]. Today, nuclear medicine continues to evolve with ongoing research and development of new radiopharmaceuticals, imaging modalities, and therapeutic applications. It plays a vital role in personalized medicine and the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases [6]. Nuclear medicine emerged in Egypt in the early1970s, and since then it has shown gradual improvement, but it has also faced many challenges that cannot be separated from the political and economic changes that Egypt has gone through.