Medical
Imaging - Nuclear Medicine
Information for patients
The nuclear medicine division of radiology is a section that
uses small, safe amounts of radioactive material to take
pictures inside the body. All studies are interpreted by
board-certified radiologists with specialty expertise in
this field.
•
Frequently asked questions
Frequently
Asked Questions
• What is a nuclear medicine scan?
A nuclear medicine scan is a test that produces images of the
body using small safe amounts of radioactive material. These
images allow the radiologist to diagnose certain diseases.
• What
should I expect?
For a thyroid scan, the patient receives one or two pills of
a very low, safe dose of radioactive iodine 24 hours prior
to the study. For most other exams, a very low, safe dose of
radioactive material is injected by vein at the time of the
study. After the radioactive material is administered, pictures
are taken with a special camera known as a gamma camera. Sometimes
the patient sits or lies next to the camera while the pictures
are taken, other times the patient lies on a table, which passes
over the camera.
• How
long will it take?
The imaging portion of most studies requires approximately
1 hour. Bone scans require approximately 3 hours, since the
patient
must return for delayed imaging. All studies are performed
with an on-site physician to monitor quality control and ensure
that each examination is tailored to the referring physician's
clinical questions.
• What
does a nuclear medicine scan machine look like?
The scan machine looks like a narrow table with a camera on
top of and sometimes also below the patient. The technologist
who
operates the machine is in the room with the patient.
• Will
it hurt?
The only pain from nuclear medicine exams may be from the initial
needle placement to inject the small amount of radioactivity.
However, in certain nuclear medicine exams the radioactivity
is administered orally and no needle is needed.
• When
may I eat after the test?
You may eat immediately afterwards.
• How
will I get the results of the nuclear medicine scan?
After the scan is finished, one of our board- certified radiologists
will interpret the study within 24 hours and send a report
to your doctor.
For
more information about general radiology at Columbia Memorial
Hospital, call 518.828.8228
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