Nuclear medicine is a subspecialty within the field of radiology that uses very small amounts of radioactive material called a radiopharmaceutical or radiotracer to diagnose disease and other abnormalities within the body.
Depending on the type of nuclear medicine scan you are undergoing, the radiotracer is injected into a vein, swallowed by mouth, or inhaled as a gas. It eventually collects in the area of your body being scanned, where it gives off energy in the form of gamma rays. This energy is detected by a device called a gamma camera and/or probe. These devices work together with a computer to measure the amount of radiotracer absorbed by your body and to produce pictures offering details about both the structure and function of organs and other internal body parts.
Nuclear medicine imaging is accurate, safe, and represents the broadest spectrum diagnostics for both general medicine and specialties including:
Because the doses of radiotracer administered are small, diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures result in minimal radiation exposure. Thus, the radiation risk is very low compared with the potential benefits. Nuclear medicine has been used for more than five decades and there are no known long-term adverse effects from such low-dose exposure. Allergic reactions to radiopharmaceuticals may occur but are extremely rare. Women should always inform their physician or radiology technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant or if they are breastfeeding.
Before the Nuclear Medicine Scan
You will receive specific instructions based on the type of scan you are undergoing. In general, the following guidelines apply to all scans.
During the Nuclear Medicine Scan
After the Nuclear Medicine Scan