Services
Nuclear Imaging
About Nuclear Medicine Studies
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.
Follow-Up
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 |
| 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 |
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. |