What is Nuclear Medicine?
This information is designed to help you understand the test(s) you will be having.
Please arrive at the medical center 30 minutes before your scheduled test time.
Your examination will be interpreted by a radiologist (physician specializing in medical imaging). The radiologist will dictate a report that states your exam results. The report will be typed and sent to your physician. You can make arrangements with your physician as to how you will receive your exam results (such as follow-up appointment, calling the physician office, etc.).
If you have any questions, please call the Radiology/Medical Imaging Department.
A nuclear medicine image or scan involves the intravenous injection of a small amount of radioactive tracer. After a variable waiting time, images are taken from several angles with a scintillation camera. Since the radioactive drugs are very low concentration, reactions are nonexistent and the radiation dose is approximately equal to that of a chest x-ray.
PREPARATION
Most nuclear exams require no preparation.
LENGTH OF THE PROCEDURE
Most Nuclear Medicine studies require approximately 45 minutes to I hour of imaging time. However, some procedures require time between injection of the material and the actual imaging. You will be instructed to bring any x-rays taken outside the Medical Center with you the day of the procedure.
There are many different types of Nuclear Medicine procedures. Some include:
Bone Scan
Gastric Emptying Imaging
Hepatobiliary Imaging
Lung Perfusion-Spect
Lung Scan
Myocardial Stress-Spect
Parathyroid
Prostascint
Thyroid Scan
White Blood Cell Scan
Ask your doctor for details on your procedure.