RadiologyInfo.org
The American College of Radiology and Radiological Society of North American includes extensive information about the many uses of nuclear medicine and has links to additional resources.
Safe, comfortable, accurate nuclear medicine testing
Nuclear medicine uses small, safe amounts of radioactive material and a special camera to produce pictures from inside your body for your healthcare provider to review. Nuclear medicine shows the structure and function inside your body and is especially useful for diagnosing physiological conditions and certain types of cancer.
Nuclear medicine uses small, safe amounts of radioactive material and a special camera to produce pictures from inside your body for your healthcare provider to review. Nuclear medicine shows the structure and function inside your body and is especially useful for diagnosing physiological conditions and certain types of cancer.
A nuclear medicine test is usually painless and begins with an injection of a radioactive material. Sometimes you are asked to swallow or inhale the radioactive substance instead. You may need to wait while the material travels to the area of your body being checked.
Once that has happened, the technologist uses a special camera to take pictures. The camera finds the radioactive material in your body and shows what’s going on in that area of your body. You must remain still when the camera is taking pictures.
Nuclear medicine testing may take as long as a few hours. Your doctor discusses this with you before your appointment so you know if you need to avoid food and drink beforehand.
Nuclear medicine is used for reasons including:
Often, nuclear medicine helps your healthcare providers find problems early in the process of a disease when you can be treated most effectively.
A nuclear medicine test is usually painless and begins with an injection of a radioactive material. Sometimes you are asked to swallow or inhale the radioactive substance instead. You may need to wait while the material travels to the area of your body being checked.
Once that has happened, the technologist uses a special camera to take pictures. The camera finds the radioactive material in your body and shows what’s going on in that area of your body. You must remain still when the camera is taking pictures.
Nuclear medicine testing may take as long as a few hours. Your doctor discusses this with you before your appointment so you know if you need to avoid food and drink beforehand.
Nuclear medicine is used for reasons including:
Often, nuclear medicine helps your healthcare providers find problems early in the process of a disease when you can be treated most effectively.
Your healthcare provider tells you in advance if you need to avoid eating or drinking before a nuclear medicine test. Be sure to wear comfortable, loose clothing. You may be asked to remove jewelry and to change into a gown for the test.
Tell your provider if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Your healthcare provider tells you in advance if you need to avoid eating or drinking before a nuclear medicine test. Be sure to wear comfortable, loose clothing. You may be asked to remove jewelry and to change into a gown for the test.
Tell your provider if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
You usually can go back to normal activities after a nuclear medicine exam. Your doctor tells you if that is not the case or about any special instructions, including drinking plenty of water to help flush the radioactive material out of your system.
You usually can go back to normal activities after a nuclear medicine exam. Your doctor tells you if that is not the case or about any special instructions, including drinking plenty of water to help flush the radioactive material out of your system.
Be sure to write down in advance the questions you want to ask your provider so you don’t forget them at your appointment.
Be sure to write down in advance the questions you want to ask your provider so you don’t forget them at your appointment.
The American College of Radiology and Radiological Society of North American includes extensive information about the many uses of nuclear medicine and has links to additional resources.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology features education about the use of PET-CT for diagnosing and staging cancer.
The American College of Radiology and Radiological Society of North American includes extensive information about the many uses of nuclear medicine and has links to additional resources.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology features education about the use of PET-CT for diagnosing and staging cancer.