
Nuclear medicine uses very small amounts of radioactive materials, or radiopharmaceuticals, to image specific organs and functions within the body. A special type of camera, a gamma camera, is used to image the radiopharmaceuticals and produce images and data that provide information about the area of the body being imaged.
If you are pregnant, please discuss with your physician prior to scheduling a nuclear medicine test Please also notify the schedulers when making your appointment, as well as the technician at the imaging center.
- Bone Scan
- Preparation
- What to expect during the test
- Hepatobiliary Scan
- Preparation
- What to expect during the test
- Renal/Kidney Scan
- Preparation
- If you are pregnant or think you might be, please inform the technologist.
- No food 5 hours prior to the test.
- You must drink a minimum of 32 ounces of fluid one hour before your appointment.
- Diuretics, ACE Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Blockers must be stopped a minimum of 48 hours prior to exam.
- Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers and Alpha Blockers can be continued.
- Contact your physician or pharmacist to ask if your medications fall in one of these categories.
- What to expect during the test
- Gallium Scan
- Preparation
- What to expect during the test
- After the test
- Liver/Spleen Scan
- Preparation
- What to expect during the test
- Lung Scan
- Preparation
- What to expect during the test
- Gastric Scan
- Preparation
- What to expect during the test
If you are pregnant or think you might be, please inform the technologist.
It is important that you drink a lot of fluids prior to the test. This will improve the quality of your images. You may take your medications and eat before your test.
Upon arrival, we will review your medical history. You will be given an injection of a small amount of radioactive tracer. This is not a drug or dye. After the injection, you will be permitted to leave for 2 hours during which time we ask that you drink a minimum of 32 ounces of fluid. Upon your return you will be placed on a narrow imaging bed to allow the camera to pass over and below you taking images of your bones for approximately 20-40 minutes. You will be asked to remain still during the pictures. In some cases, your doctor might order a three-phase bone scan, which includes a series of images taken at different times. A number of images are taken as the tracer is injected, then again shortly after the injection and two to four hours later.
If you are pregnant or think you might be, please inform the technologist. Do not eat or drink anything 4 hours prior to the test.
Upon arrival, we will review your medical history. A small I.V. will be inserted into your arm through which you will be given an injection of a small amount of a radioactive tracer. After the injection, you will be placed on a narrow imaging bed to allow pictures to be taken of your gallbladder. You will be asked to remain still as images are taken every 15 minutes. After 1 hour, you will be given medication through your I.V. that should make your gallbladder contract, with additional images taken 15 and 30 minutes later. This medication may make you feel warm or nauseated for a few minutes. This sensation will pass quickly, typically within a few minutes.
If you are pregnant or think you might be, please inform the technologist. Do not take any medication containing bismuth, such as Pepto-Bismol, 4 days before the test. You may need to take a laxative during the 48 hours after the injection to prevent the gallium in your colon from interfering with images of your abdomen.
Upon arrival, we will review your medical history. You will be given an injection of a small amount of a radioactive tracer. This is not a drug or dye. Depending on what your physician is looking for, you may return 24 hours and possibly 72 hours after the injection. When images are taken, you will be asked to lie flat on a narrow, padded table. Images will be taken with a special camera and will include your entire body. Imaging will take approximately 1 hour.
If you are breastfeeding, it is recommended that you discontinue for at least 4 weeks after the gallium scan is completed.
If you are pregnant or think you might be, please inform the technologist, otherwise, no prep.
You will be given an injection of a small amount of a radioactive tracer. This is not a drug or dye. Approximately 15 minutes after the injection, you will lie down on a narrow, padded table. A special camera will be lowered close to your body. Images will be taken for approximately 20-30 minutes.
If you are pregnant or think you might be, please inform the technologist, otherwise, no prep. It is very helpful to have a recent chest x-ray prior to the lung scan. This will assist the radiologist in interpreting the images.
You will be given an injection of a small amount of a radioactive tracer while lying on a narrow padded table. This is not a drug or dye. A special camera will be lowered close to your body. Images will be taken for approximately 20-30 minutes.
If you are pregnant or think you might be, please inform the technologist.
Nothing to eat or drink after midnight.
You will be given a small amount of egg whites to eat that contains a small amount of radioactive tracer. You will then be lying flat on a table while images are taken of your stomach. Imaging will take approximately 1 - 4 hours.