Nuclear medicine uses very small amounts of radioactive materials or radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose disease. Radiopharmaceuticals are substances that are attracted to specific organs, bones, or tissues. The radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine emit gamma rays that can be detected externally by special types of cameras: gamma or PET cameras. These cameras work in conjunction with computers to form images that provide data and information about the area of body being imaged. The amount of radiation from a nuclear medicine procedure is comparable to that received during a diagnostic x-ray. Today, nuclear medicine offers procedures that are helpful to a broad span of medical specialties, from pediatrics to cardiology to psychiatry. |
How long will my Nuclear Medicine scan take? Different patient preparations are required for most Nuclear Medicine studies and each scan varies in time. The average time is about 45 minutes. Most scans require 2 appointment times, one in the morning for the injection, then one several hours later for scanning. Preparation Patient preparation involves removing any articles of clothing or jewelry that may interfere with the imaging procedure. In some cases the patient may be asked to wear a patient gown. Before the examination, patients should inform the technologist if they have any prosthetic implants in their body. |
