NUCLEAR MEDICINE
Radiology Imaging Services provides the highest standard of nuclear medicine services. As with most of our imaging technologies, we have standardized our equipment to provide the same level of care at all facilities. Protocols and equipment for nuclear medicine is the same throughout our system, making it convenient for patients to have follow-up exams at different locations on the same equipment, with the same imaging technique.
Hospital locations with Nuclear Medicine:
Locations that provide sedation or anesthesia:
For pediatric patients or adults with claustrophobia (requires nursing, physician observation or anesthesia):
What is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear Medicine, in simple terms, can be described as the opposite of X-ray. While X-ray or CT scanning machines emit an "X-ray" that produces an image, nuclear medicine scanners are designed to detect the X-ray or radioactivity from the patient.
Nuclear Medicine uses "radioisotopes" or radioactive pharmaceuticals that are injected into the vein. After injection, the isotope circulates through the body and concentrates in a specific area. There is a long list of isotopes used in nuclear medicine that are all designed to concentrate in different areas of the body (i.e., lungs, heart, kidneys, skeleton, brain). Your doctor may order one of many different types of nuclear medicine procedures.
Nuclear Medicine and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) are also different from conventional X-ray in that they are considered "functional" or "metabolic" imaging tools. Where CT scanning, X-ray, and MRI are designed to provide highly detailed images of body structure and anatomy, nuclear medicine compliments them by providing information relating to organ or cell metabolism.
How do I prepare for the exam?
There are a variety of different preparations depending on the type of exam your physician has ordered. While some nuclear medicine procedures require no preparation at all, others may require that you stop certain medications or refrain from food for brief periods of time. You will be provided with exam prep instructions by your doctor's office or by Radiology Imaging Services scheduling staff.
A nuclear medicine exam can last as little as 30 minutes or could extend over the course of several days. Remembering that nuclear medicine is a functional imaging tool, there are several parameters involved depending on the type of exam.
Some scans will require the isotope injection in the scan room so the technical staff can take immediate images while the isotope is circulating. With other exams, you may receive the isotope injection followed by a delay or waiting period while the isotope circulates. Again, depending on the exam, you may be requested to return for pictures within an hour or even the next day. The technical staff will discuss these issues on the day of your exam.
How do I obtain the results of the exam?
Your physician should provide you with the results of the exam. The radiologist will interpret most nuclear medicine scans the same day they are performed. Some cases will require comparison to other exams that may result in a slight delay. We provide results directly to your physicians as soon as the accuracy of your report is verified by the radiologist.
|
