Services | Radiology | Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear Medicine


1. Exam Description


Nuclear Medicine procedures are among the safest of diagnostic imaging tests. The amount of radiation involved is comparable to that received during an x-ray. The procedures are painless and do not require anesthetic. Nuclear Medicine uses a small amount of radioactive material and an imaging machine to display a picture showing the condition of bone or other body organs. The radioactive material is introduced into your body orally or through an injection, and disappears from your system in 1-2 days. The exams are useful in viewing the function of the bone, gallbladder, heart, liver, or thyroid.

2. You Can Expect


If the isotope is injected you will feel a sharp pinprick when the needle is inserted, similar to having a blood test. The injection will not make you sleepy, and it will not prevent you from driving. As soon as the scans have been reviewed for clarity, you will be allowed to go home. Unless your doctor advises otherwise, you may resume your normal daily activities and diet immediately after your scan. A radioactive isotope needs to be introduced into the body. This may be done in several ways: Through a needle into a vein (usually the inside of the elbow) Ingestion (for example, to test the thyroid, the patient swallows a radioactive iodine capsule) Subcutaneous injection (under the skin) Collecting a patient's own blood from a vein, adding the radioisotope compound in a laboratory, and then injecting it back into the patient After a certain period of time has passed (ranging from a few hours to a day or more for different exams), you will be placed on a padded examination table under the scanner called a gamma camera. You will be positioned under the camera as a series of pictures is taken. It is imperative that you remain still to produce accurate and useful sets of images. A technician interprets the information as it is transmitted to the computer and can guide the camera to specific locations to improve the imaging. The average imaging time is less than 1 hour, but some studies require more than an hour, and in some cases, more than one visit.

3. Preparations


There are different preparation instructions depending on the type of scan to be performed. You will be informed of what to do to prepare for your scan when your exam is scheduled.

4. Patient Suggestions


A Radiologist will review the results of our nuclear medicine study and will report the findings to your doctor who will then explain them to you.