Nuclear Medicine Nuclear Medicine Imaging is a specialty within the field of medical imaging. The patient is given a small amount of a radioactive tracer that allows a gamma camera to view the functioning of internal organs. Nuclear Medicine can help physicians diagnose and monitor treatment, and is one of the most widely used methods for detecting early signs of heart, lung, liver, thyroid, bone and kidney disease. It is also useful in the detection of infections and tumours.
Nuclear Medicine allows physicians to ‘see’ the functioning of an organ, tissue, bone, and other body systems. For many diseases, Nuclear Medicine scans yield the most useful information to enable physicians to make a diagnosis, or determine the appropriate treatment.
Nuclear Imaging Pre-Test Preparation
BONE FLOW AND SCAN
Preparation: None.
Duration: 20-30 minutes for injection and initial imaging. Return 2-3 hours later for additional images, which will take approximately 30 - 90 minutes
PERFUSION BRAIN IMAGING
Preparation: None.
Duration: 30 minutes for injection. Return 1 to 1.5 hours later for tomographic imaging, which will take approximately 30 minutes.
SENTINEL NODE MAPPING
Preparation: None.
Duration: 1.5 hours.
THYROID SCAN
Preparation: Check with your physician regarding medication and supplements.
Bring a current list of medications with you to the appointment.
Duration: 30 minutes.
THYROID UPTAKE
Preparation: No food or drink for 4 hours. Thyroid medication or food containing iodine will affect the results. Check with your physician regarding medication and supplements. No x-ray using an iodine based contrast for 3 weeks prior. Please bring a current list of medication.
– Duration Day 1 – 15 minutes – 1 hour. A capsule is taken orally.
A measurement may be taken at 1 hour.
– Duration Day 2 – 15 minutes.
GASTRIC EMPTYING
Preparation: No food or drink for 8 hours. Bring a list of current medication.
If you are diabetic, please bring insulin and insulin monitor. Call office if you are allergic to eggs.
Duration: Up to 4 hours.
LIVER / SPLEEN SCAN
Preparation: No Barium Studies within 72 hours prior.
Duration: 45-60 minutes for injection and scan.
HEPATOBILIARY STUDY
Preparation: No food or drink for 6-8 hrs but no longer than 24 hours.
Duration: 2-4 hours.
HEPATOBILIARY with CCK
Duration: 1.5 hours.
RENAL FLOW SCAN
Preparation: Drink 32 ounces / 1 litre of water 30 minutes prior to exam. Continue to void as usual. Bring a current list of medications. Consult with your physician regarding ongoing use of your regular medications.
Duration: 1 hour.
– Renal scans with Lasix
Preparation: Drink 32 ounces / 1 litre of water 30 minutes prior to exam.
Duration: 1.5 hours.
– Renal scans with Captopril
Preparation: No food for 4 hours prior. Drink 32 ounces / 1 litre of water 30 minutes prior to exam.
Duration: 1.5-2 hours.
GALLIUM SCAN / WHITE BLOOD CELL
Preparation: A recent bone scan is required for comparison with gallium studies of skeletal areas.
Duration: A 2 part study. The injection is given on day 1 and the scan is done 1-4 days later, requiring 1-4 hours.
MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION IMAGING
Exercices Preparation: Appropriate clothing is advised for exercise studies (running shoes, shorts and short-sleeved, loose T-shirt). No solid food 4 hours prior to exam. No caffeine 24 hours prior to tests. Patient should be off Beta-blockers and calcium blockers on the recommendation of referring physician only.
Dipyridamole (Pharmacologic stress) Preparation: No exercise clothing required. No solid food 4 hours prior to exam. No caffeine 24 hours prior to tests. For patients who have severe asthma and who are on chronic bronchodilators, Dipyridamole stress studies are contraindicated.
Duration: Myoview perfusion imaging may be performed as a 1 or 2 day study. If both rest and stress images are to be performed in 1 day, the total time required is 4½ to 5 hours. Two day Myoview studies require 2 to 2.5 hours for each of the stress and rest studies.
VENTRICULAR FUNCTION STUDIES
Preparation (MUGX): Appropriate clothing is advised for exercise studies (running shoes, shorts and a short-sleeved, loose T-shirt). No food or drink for 6 hours prior to exam. Patient should be off Beta-blockers and calcium blockers on the recommendation of the referring physician only.
Rest (MUGA): No preparation required.
Duration: 1.5 hours.
Check with your physician regarding medication and that these preparations are right for you.
