What is nuclear medicine?
Nuclear medicine scanners produce images by detecting a radioactive tracer in the patient. The process uses radioactive pharmaceuticals which are injected into the vein. After injection, the isotope circulates through the body and concentrates in a specific area. There are different isotopes designed to concentrate in different areas of the body (i.e., lungs, heart, kidneys, skeleton and brain). Physicians may order one or more different types of nuclear medicine procedures.

Both nuclear medicine and PET (positron emission tomography) are considered functional or metabolic imaging tools, meaning that they provide information on how organs or cells work.

How do patients prepare for the exam?
Different preparations depend on the type of exam ordered. Some nuclear medicine procedures require no preparation, but others may require medication or food modifications. Either a physician's office or the Radiology Imaging Services scheduling staff will provide instructions.

A nuclear medicine exam can last as little as 30 minutes or could extend over the course of several days.

Some scans require the isotope injection in the scan room so the technical staff can take immediate images while the isotope is circulating. With other exams, patients may receive the isotope injection followed by a delay while the isotope circulates. Again, depending on the exam, patients 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 the exam.

When are results available?
Physicians provide exam results. The radiologist interprets the nuclear medicine scans the day they are performed. Some cases may require comparison to other exams, resulting in a slight delay. CMC provides results directly to physicians as soon as the radiologist verifies the report accuracy.