Nuclear medicine scans provide information about various organ functions by imaging the concentration of specially formulated radioactive chemical compounds in selected parts of the body. These compounds, or radioisotopes, are administered to patients by trained technologists in small amounts in order to evaluate for functional abnormalities in bone, liver, lungs, heart, brain, kidneys and the endocrine system.

Nuclear medicine exams include: ventilation and perfusion (V/Q) scan for showing blood flow and air movement in the lungs; stress perfusion scan for assessing coronary artery blood flow and cardiac muscle damage; bone scan and PET scan for detecting the spread of cancer; liver, spleen, gallbladder, and kidney scans to evaluate organ function; thyroid scan to visualize activity of the thyroid gland; and scans of the gastrointestinal system to identify active bleeding sites.

Procedure and Preparation

For a nuclear medicine exam, the patient is given a small amount of radioisotope, either orally or by injection, to enhance the visualization of selected organs or vascular structures. Once the radioisotope has accumulated in the region of the body under study, the technologist positions a camera close to the region and begins the scanning process. The images are viewed on a computer monitor after the examination by a specially trained physician who will communicate the results to your own doctor.
Several dozen types of studies are performed in the Nuclear Medicine section; the required patient preparation varies from study to study. Patients are urged to consult their own physician or the Nuclear Medicine section regarding any necessary preparation prior to their procedure.

Safety Concerns

As with any radiologic procedure, pregnant women should consult with their physician before undergoing a nuclear medicine exam. Generally, nuclear medicine scans are not performed on pregnant women. Nursing mothers as well as patients taking medication are also advised to inform their physician.