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Nuclear medicine studies are special diagnostic tests to help your physician pinpoint potential problems. They are not x-rays, and you will experience no discomfort, no side effects, and no reactions. So, you will be able to drive, return to work, and resume all your normal activities when your study is completed. All medicines are given intravenously (by an IV tube placed into a vein in the arm), or are taken by mouth.
The images acquired during your procedure will be reviewed by a radiologist, who will then report the results to your doctor. Your doctor will discuss the results with you at your next appointment.
| Study |
Preparation |
Procedure
& Special Instructions |
| Thyroid
Scan or Thyroid Uptake and Scan |
No
breakfast
Prior to scan, patient may not take: PTU, 1 week;
Synthroid, 6 weeks; Tapazole, 1 week; Cytomel,
2 weeks; or multivitamins with Iodine, 4 weeks |
Patient
given a pill and returns 4 to 5 hours later.
When patient returns, study takes 45 minutes.
For uptake studies: Patient also returns the following
morning; that visit takes 10 minutes. |
| Bone Scan |
None |
Patient receives
an injection and returns 3 to 4 hours later. When
patient returns, study takes 45 minutes.
**Patient is required to drink fluids and empty
bladder between injection and pictures. |
| Gallium
Scan |
None |
Patient
receives an injection; returns 24, 48, and sometimes
72 hours later for pictures. The study takes 45 minutes
to 2 hours on each return. |
| White Cell Labeling
Scan |
None |
Study requires the
patient to have 50 cc. of blood drawn at 7:30 a.m.,
and to return at 12:30 p.m. to have the white cells
reinjected. Images are taken 2 to 3 hours after the
reinjection. The study takes 1 hour. In some instances,
patient may need to return 24 hours later. |
| Lung
Scan |
Must
have chest x-ray within 24 hours |
This
is a two-part study. The first part requires an IV
injection and pictures. The second part requires breathing
medicine through a mouthpiece and taking pictures.
The study takes 45 minutes. |
| Renal Scan |
Drink two 8-ounce
glasses of liquid prior to appointment |
Patient receives an
IV injection in the arm. The study is done immediately
and takes between 45 and 90 minutes. |
| Hepatobiliary
CCK |
Nothing
by mouth
No pain medicine for 4 hours prior to scan |
Patient
has an IV inserted into the arm. Images are taken
for 1 hour. Then the patient is given an injection
of CCK, and imaging is resumed for 30 minutes. |
| Hepatobiliary Scan |
Nothing by mouth
No pain medicine for 4 hours prior to scan |
Patient receives an
injection in the arm. Images are taken for 1 hour.
The patient may be required to return 2 hours and
4 hours later for additional images. Study takes 15
minutes on each return. |
Gastric
Empty |
No
food or beverages for 4 hours prior to the study |
Patient
is given an egg sandwich to eat and orange juice
to drink. Pictures are taken non-stop for 30 minutes.
A 60-second picture is then taken at 1, 11/2,
and 2 hours. |
| Liver/Spleen Scan |
No barium studies
done for 2 days prior to study |
Patient receives
an injection in the arm. Pictures are taken immediately
for 45 minutes. |
Meckels
Scan |
Patient
must be on Cimetedine 24 hours prior to scan. (Your
physician will order the Cimetedine.)
No meal 4 hours prior to study
Under 6 years of age, no meal 2 hours prior to
study |
Patient
receives an injection in the arm. Pictures are taken
immediately for 30 minutes. |
Schilling Test |
No meal 8 hours
prior to study
No B12 injection for 5 days prior to the study |
Patient is given
a pill and collects all urine for 24 hours.
The patient also receives a B12 injection two
hours after the pill is given. (Patient may eat
after the B12 injection.) |
| Hemangiogram |
No
barium studies done for 2 days prior to study |
Patient
receives two injections into a vein in the arm between
15 to 30 minutes apart. One hour after the second
injection, pictures are taken for 30 minutes. |
| I 131 WBS |
Prior to scan,
patient may not take: PTU, 1 week; Synthroid, 6
weeks; Cytomel, 2 weeks; Tapazole, 1 week
Patient may be on Thyrogen |
Patient is given
a pill, and returns 48 hours later.
When patient returns, study takes about 2 hours. |
| Prostascint
Scan |
Follow physician's
instructions for milk of magnesia preparation on
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings.
Fleet enemas needed as instructed.
Patient should drink plenty of water after the
injection as instructed. |
Patient
receives IV injection, and returns four days later
for imaging. The imaging takes about 21/2 hours. |
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You should not have had any nuclear medicine scan, or an x-ray study using contrast material (such as a CT scan), for 7 days prior to the bone density study. If you are unable to walk or lie flat with a pillow, please contact the Nuclear Medicine Department at 610-988-8401. Also, if you have had any previous surgery to install metal clips, plates, or hip replacements, please advise the technician when you arrive. Other than that, there are no other restrictions for you to follow.
When you arrive, you may be asked to change into an examination gown. This will occur only if you are wearing clothing that has metal clips or zippers. When you are ready, the technician will show you to the examination room, and help you onto the table. You will be positioned on your back as images of your lumbar spine and hip are recorded. You will be required to lie flat for each scan, which lasts about two minutes each. Please allow 20 minutes for your bone density study.
The images processed after your procedure will be reviewed by a radiologist, who will then report the results to your Doctor. Your doctor will discuss the results with you at your next appointment.
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A PET/CT scan is an advanced nuclear medicine study that helps your physician pinpoint a specific problem by looking at how your body systems function. Often used to provide additional information about tumors, PET/CT scans can also detect certain diseases of the heart and brain. PET/CT scans are relatively safe and painless. You will experience no side effects. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not have a PET/CT scan.
Before the Day of Your Appointment
- You will be contacted a day or two before your appointment to review this information, especially about taking or adjusting your current medications. If you are on medications for seizures, please tell the nurse who calls you. During this phone call, please be sure to ask anything you do not understand about PET/CT scans.
- Make a list of all medications that you are currently taking. Be sure to include the name of the drug, the dose you take, and how frequently you take it.
- Be sure to collect the following information to bring with you to the appointment: this brochure, your health benefit identification cards, referral forms, x-rays that your physician may give you to bring along, and your list of medications.
- If you cannot keep your appointment, please call us at least 24 hours in advance. This is very important because the medication used for your test is ordered and prepared just for you the day before your procedure.
On the Day of Your Appointment
- Do not eat or drink anything except water for 4 hours before your test.
- Please dress comfortably. Avoid clothing with metal snaps, fasteners, or decorations.
- If you are diabetic, follow the specific instructions you were given during the advance telephone call about taking your medications that day.
- Please do not take Lasix or any diuretic on the day of your appointment.
- Please take all other medications according to your normal schedule.
- Please remember to bring this brochure, your health benefit cards, referral forms, list of current medications, and any additional x-rays that your doctor gave you.
Upon your arrival in the Nuclear Medicine Center, you will be welcomed and registered. You will then be taken to the PET/CT Scan center, and introduced to the nurse and certified nuclear medicine technologist who will perform the study.
Your blood sugar level will be checked. If it is high, then you will receive a dose of insulin as recommended by the physician. Your level will be rechecked to make certain it is within acceptable ranges.
Depending on the type of scan you are having, you may be asked to change into an examination gown.
Also depending on the type of scan, you may have a urinary catheter inserted.
Next, an intravenous line will be started in your arm. F-18 FDG, a colorless radioactive liquid, will be injected through the IV line. You will remain in a comfortable resting position for the next 45-60 minutes while the material circulates through your body.
Just before the start of the PET/CT scan, we will remove the IV line. You will also be asked to empty your bladder.
Next, you will be helped onto the imaging table, which will pass slowly through the scanner. This pass takes about 45-60 minutes. During this time, you are asked to remain very still.
When the scan is complete, you will be allowed to return home without any restrictions on your activities. However, you will be told to drink plenty of fluids and to double-flush the toilet for the next 24 hours.
Remember: for the next 24 hours, drink plenty of water and other fluids. Also, double-flush every time you use the toilet for the 24 hours following your appointment.
Your PET/CT scan will be interpreted by a radiologist, who will then report the results to your doctor. Your doctor will discuss the results with you at your next appointment.
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