Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine
A nuclear medicine exam is a safe and painless procedure which utilizes radioactive tracer to detect, diagnose and treat diseases. It can identify abnormalities early in the progression of a disease which give health care providers the ability to identify the best course of action for medical care.
Nuclear medicine differs from the other exams, such as X-ray, CT or MRI, because it focuses on organ function rather than just the anatomy. This type of technology provides a high-quality image of an organ but also shows if the organ is working properly. This allows us to not only detect cancer, but also study the activity of many organs including the thyroid, heart, stomach and kidneys.
Nuclear medicine is also well known for being effective in detecting abnormalities in the bone and joints including trauma, fractures, arthritis or tumors.
What to Expect
Nuclear medicine exams use a small and safe amount of radioactive “tracer “or (dye) agents, that targets specific organs, bones, or tissues. The tracer will be administered orally or by IV injection. Durations of the exam will depend on the area of concern.
Once in position, the tracer emits gamma rays that are detected by a scanner to form images and provide data about the body area in question.
The patient can expect to be scanned for approximately 30-60 minutes.
These procedures are very safe. The amount of radiation needed for the exam is minimal and the body eliminates the tracer material typically within 24 hours. Drinking extra water will help remove the tracer more quickly out of your system.
Preparation
- Preparation for your Nuclear Medicine scan will depend on the type of exam. A Vital Imaging representative will call you prior to your appointment to provide specific instructions and to answer any questions you may have about your exam.
- Please bring previous imaging study results (X-ray, MRI, CT, etc.) as reports, films or CD-roms if available.
- Notify our staff if you are nursing or if there is a chance you could be pregnant.
- Please arrive 15 minutes early to complete registration process.
Exams Performed
- BONE SCAN
- BONE SCAN TRIPLE – PHASE
- BONE SCAN WHOLE BODY
- THYROID SCAN
- THYROID UPTAKE & SCAN
- PARATHYROID SCAN
- HYPERTHYROID THERAPY I-131
- THYROID CANCER THERAPY I-131
- RENAL SCAN
- RENAL SCAN W/CAPTOPRIL
- LIVER /SPLEEN SCAN
- HEPATOBILIARY SCAN (PIPIDA SCAN)
- MUGA – GATED BLOOD POOL
- GASTRIC EMPTYING
- NUCLEAR STRESS TEST
- PET/CT SCAN