What
is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear medicine is a safe and
relatively painless diagnostic technique which involves the
use of a very small amount of radioactive substance to study
the functions of various organs within the body and thus aid
in establishing diagnosis.
Blood circulates through every organ of the body, transporting
oxygen and nutrients to the organs and transporting waste products
away from the organs. When a disease process is present, there
is usually a change in the blood supply and function of that
organ. Nuclear Medicine tests are useful in determining specific
organ function to see if it is affected by disease process.
How
should I prepare for it?
Most tests do not require any
preparation. However, some tests require that you do not eat
or drink for four hours prior to the study. If there are any
other specific instructions to follow, you will be advised
at the time the appointment is made.
What
can I expect during the test?
Prior
to the test, you will be interviewed by one of our technologists
regarding your medical history and any medications you may
be taking. If you have any questions about the test; do not
hesitate to ask the technologist. He or she can explain the
entire procedure before it begins.
The
radioisotope will be injected into a vein in
your arm and is carried by the blood to the organ under investigation.
Sometimes the pictures are taken immediately after injection
and sometimes you will have to wait for a while. Depending
on the test, the substance may need time to reach the organ
studied.
The
technologist will take pictures of the body. You
will have to lie down on a special table and a gamma camera
that can detect x or gamma rays will visualize the injected
substance in your body. The camera is positioned close to
your body and if you are having three dimensional pictures
taken, the camera will slowly rotate around you taking pictures
as it moves. It is important to lie as still as possible during
this time to avoid blurring the images.
A
written report will be sent to your doctor upon
completion of analysis of the test. Your doctor will then
explain the test results to you.
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