What is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear Medicine is one of the best ways to detect the presence of cancers, diseases, and infections in their earliest stages. Unlike MRI, CT, and X-Ray which take images of your internal anatomy, Nuclear Medicine scans show not only the structure but the function of soft tissue, bone, and blood vessels.
Why Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear Medicine is the best way to monitor the function of your internal organs and bone structures and is ideal for:
How is a Nuclear Medicine scan different than other diagnostic scans?
Nuclear Medicine uses the opposite approach to CT and X-Ray in gathering information about your internal functions. Rather than working from the outside in by transmitting radiation through your body and capturing data onto a film or into a computer, Nuclear Medicine works from the inside out.
Nuclear Medicine uses a very low-level radioactive chemical, called a radiopharmaceutical, that is either inhaled, ingested, or administered intravenously, and specially designed to temporarily collect in a specific part of your body. The radioactive part of the radiopharmaceutical emits gamma rays, a form of radiation similar to an X-Ray. These gamma rays are detected by a special camera called a gamma camera, which allows us to see what is happening inside your body. Gamma cameras do not emit any type of radiation.
Following your scan, the radiopharmaceutical will be naturally broken down and flushed out of your body.
Can anyone have a Nuclear Medicine Scan?
Nuclear Medicine uses a low-dose of radiation and poses little or no risk.
Women who are or may be pregnant should consult their physician prior to having a Nuclear Medicine scan. If you are currently nursing, you will need to stop for anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on the study.
Please alert the technologist if you are diabetic.
I am claustrophobic, will I be comfortable?
Yes. A Nuclear Medicine scanner is very similar to an X-Ray.
What do I expect during a Nuclear Medicine scan?
Shortly after your arrival to our clinic, you will be given the radiopharmaceutical either intravenously or orally. You will then be asked to lie down on a bed and the gamma camera will be placed a few inches over the area which is being scanned. In some cases, the camera may lightly touch your body.
Nuclear Medicine scans may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the type of scan ordered by your doctor.
When will I get the results of my Nuclear Medicine scan?
A Board Certified Radiologist will review and evaluate your images within the 24 hours following your scan. The radiologist will provide your referring physician with an interpretation of the results of the scan. Your health-care provider can then make a diagnosis and explain what the findings mean with you.