Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine is a safe and painless imaging procedure used to show the function and structure of various organs. It detects signals from small amounts of radioactive material within the body to diagnose medical problems associated with function and/or structure.

DURING A NUCLEAR MEDICINE SCAN:

Each type of Nuclear Medicine scan utilizes specific radiopharmaceuticals and imaging protocols. The radioactive materials used for the test have no side effects or allergies associated with them. The most common route of administration is through an IV; some may take a pill. The length of time required for a Nuclear Medicine procedure varies with each type of exam. However, the Diagnostic Imaging Department has specific information to answer your questions.

TYPES OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE PROCEDURES AVAILABLE:

• Bone Scan/3-Phase Bone Scan

• Lung Scan, V/Q Scan

• HIDA Scan, Hepatobiliary Scan, (gallbladder)

• Renal Scan (Kidney Scan)

• Thyroid Imaging/ Thyroid Uptake Scan/ Parathyroid Imaging/ Thyroid I-131 Therapy

• Gastric Emptying Study

• White Blood Cell imaging

• Red Blood Cell imaging

• Cardiac Stress Test

• Sentinel Node Identification

BENEFITS:

Nuclear medicine procedures are among the safest diagnostic imaging exams available. The patient receives an extremely small amount of a radiopharmaceutical. In fact, the amount of radiation from a nuclear medicine procedure is comparable to, or often times less than, that of a diagnostic x-ray.

Nuclear medicine is a safe, painless, and cost-effective way of gathering information. A unique aspect of a nuclear medicine test is its extreme sensitivity to abnormalities in an organ's structure or function. Nuclear medicine imaging procedures often identify abnormalities very early in the progression of a disease long before some medical problems are apparent with other diagnostic tests.

EQUIPMENT:

Philips Brightview with Jetstream Workstation

To schedule your procedure, contact Community Wide Scheduling at 573-883-4488.